Contract Analyst (1660) - Temporary

OVERVIEW: 

The Contracts Team at Aramco Trading Americas (ATA) is responsible for coordinating and leveraging short-to-medium-term commercial trading opportunities.

The Contract Analyst provides contract advice and support regarding physical, financial, and other risks associated with the following types of agreements:

• Term supply and purchase agreements
• Physical and financial broker agreements
• Master Enabling Agreements
• Joint general terms and conditions
• Review of tenders for bid
• Land and marine logistics agreements (including pipeline, storage, terminal, marine vessel spot and time charter parties, contracts of affreightment, and master transportation agreements)

The incumbent is expected to have knowledge and proficiency in negotiating master enabling agreements such as NAESBs, LEAP, LEAP/RINs, ISDAs, term and spot purchase and sales contracts, and experience drafting and negotiating domestic and international logistics agreements.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• Draft, negotiate, and review new contract provisions directly with internal stakeholders and external counterparties.
• Interpret key elements of non-standard contracts and analyze/identify the risks associated with requested changes to clauses in ATA standardized agreements and/or counterparty Agreements.  It is critical to be able to understand and communicate the risks to other stakeholder groups in terms that are understood.
• Interface with commercial and functional support teams, including Legal, Credit, Regulatory Compliance, Marine, Risk, Treasury and Insurance, and Tax departments.
• Ensure agreements accurately reflect the terms and conditions of related transactions, influencing where possible to limit changes to ATA’s standard form agreements to reduce risks.
• Draft replies in appropriate legal language based on reviews of third-party general terms and conditions for use by the confirmations team.
• Review confirmation documents as required and provide guidance within ATA KPI’s.
• Negotiate Master Agreements, framework agreements, and side letter agreements directly with third parties on behalf of ATA.
• Consult with other Contract Analysts and the Contracts Manager when analyzing terms and negotiating contracts to ensure consistent feedback between review requests.
• Interface regularly with commercial and trading teams and keep apprised of transaction status and any related special conditions.
• Meet tight deadlines and work under pressure in a dynamic environment with frequently changing requirements to optimize trading.
• Ensure the Contracts records database (Sirion/Apttus) is maintained and updated in a timely manner so that other internal stakeholders remain continuously apprised of contract negotiation status.
• Follow established company and departmental contract processes and procedures. Identify and suggest updates/improvements to procedures, as necessary. Ensure compliance with the established ATA records retention policy.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• At least five years’ experience in contract analysis and negotiation related to the marketing and trading of physical hydrocarbons (crude, natural gas, chemicals, or refined products) and related logistics contracts for the storage and transportation of physical hydrocarbons. This does not include the analysis and negotiation of procurement or supply chain-related contracts.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, or equivalent combinations of education and experience in the energy marketing and trading industry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong reading comprehension, organization, and analytical skills. The ability to comprehend and communicate risks in contracts to different stakeholders in language that is relevant to them is key.   
• Attention to detail
• Commodity Trading or Energy industry experience
• Team-oriented with the ability to be self-directed and work independently
• Above average Time management skills
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to interact with all levels of staff and management and find creative ways to solicit feedback in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working with Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, SAP, and energy trading risk management software
• Ability to work in an office environment located in downtown Houston, TX
• Experience with US law and contracts.
• Experience in process maintenance and improvement.
• Proven strategic thinker with the ability to execute ideas.
• Experience with Microsoft Power Platform.

NO THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES ACCEPTED; TEMPORARY POSITION ANTICIPATED TO LAST APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR