What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Credit Risk and Contract Administration position at NextDecade?
ABOUT NEXTDECADE CORPORATION
NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to reliable, lower-carbon energy. We are focused on delivering secure and cost-effective energy through the safe and efficient development and operation of natural gas liquefaction capacity at Rio Grande LNG. Through our subsidiaries, we are developing and constructing the Rio Grande LNG natural gas liquefaction and export facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction or in development, sufficient space at the site for up to 10 liquefaction trains, and a potential carbon capture and storage project. NextDecade’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NEXT.” NextDecade is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.next-decade.com.
SUMMARY OF THE ROLE
\nContract Administration & Lifecycle Management
- Lead the administration and lifecycle management of LNG-related commercial agreements, including:
- Gas supply agreements
- LNG sale and purchase agreements (SPAs)
- Transportation and related midstream agreements
- Ensure accurate interpretation and execution of contract terms, including pricing, volume, scheduling, invoicing, and settlement provisions.
- Develop and maintain contract summaries, obligation tracking tools, and reporting for internal stakeholders.
- Monitor contract performance and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
Commercial & Contractual Risk Management
- Evaluate credit and operational risks embedded in LNG and gas contracts, including:
- Take-or-pay and deliver-or-pay structures
- Pricing mechanisms and indexation
- Volume flexibility and optionality
- Support contract negotiations by providing credit and operational risk input and ensuring appropriate credit protections (e.g., collateral, guarantees, termination rights).
- Proactively identify and mitigate contractual and counterparty risks
Credit Risk Management
- Lead credit risk assessment and approval of feedgas suppliers and LNG offtakers, including utilities, traders, and sovereign-backed entities.
- Establish and maintain counterparty credit limits, internal ratings, and credit terms in line with the firm’s risk appetite.
- Monitor and manage credit exposures across gas supply agreements, LNG SPAs, and related commercial transactions.
- Oversee calculation and reporting of current and potential future exposures, including mark-to-market and settlement risk.
- Identify and manage concentration risks across counterparties, geographies, and sectors.
Margining, Collateral & Treasury Coordination
- Oversee and monitor collateral requirements, including margin calls, letters of credit, guarantees, and other credit support mechanisms.
- Track contractual triggers for credit support and collateral posting obligations.
- Partner closely with Treasury to:
- Ensure timely funding of margin calls and collateral postings
- Forecast potential liquidity requirements under normal and stress scenarios
- Optimize collateral usage and minimize funding costs
- Provide transparency into credit-driven liquidity impacts to senior management.
Invoicing, Settlement & Dispute Resolution
- Oversee invoice validation, settlement processes, and dispute resolution in coordination with Accounting and counterparties.
- Ensure alignment between contract terms and financial settlements.
- Resolve discrepancies related to pricing, volumes, and contract performance.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and develop a team responsible for credit risk and contract administration activities.
- Establish best practices in contract execution, credit analysis, and risk monitoring.
- Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and disciplined risk management.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Energy Management, or related field
- 10–15 years of experience in credit risk, contract administration, or commercial operations within LNG, natural gas, or energy markets
- Strong understanding of LNG SPAs, gas supply agreements, and commodity trading structures
- Proven experience managing counterparty credit risk and collateral/margining processes
- Experience working with Treasury or managing liquidity impacts from margining
- Ability to interpret complex contracts and translate them into operational processes
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Preferred Requirements:
- Experience with LNG, natural gas trading, or power markets
- Familiarity with contract management systems and/or ETRM platforms (e.g., Endur)
- Prior experience supporting large-scale infrastructure or energy projects
- Knowledge of ISDA/EFET frameworks and structured commodity transactions
- Advanced degree or professional certifications (CFA, FRM, etc.)
Work Environment
This position operates in a professional office environment with occasional work within or outside of a complex construction environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers/fax, filing cabinets, etc.This is primarily a sedentary role; however, the incumbent must be able to stand and/or sit continuously to perform all essential job functions for a full shift.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with ADA-recognized disabilities to perform the essential functions for the job.
· Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. as required in order to lift files, boxes and office equipment as necessary.
· Ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending, standing on a stool, or climbing as necessary to perform these functions.
· While performing the duties of this role, the incumbent may be required to talk or hear.
· The incumbent is required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
· Ability to move throughout all areas of each office/site location and facilities.
· Able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.
If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at recruiting@next-decade.com.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
*In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
NEXTDECADE VALUES
· Safety – We make safety a priority. Everything we do relies on the safety of our people and the communities around us.
· Integrity – We do the right thing, and are open, ethical, and fair. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in all that we do.
· Honesty – We value truth and honesty in ourselves and others. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions.
· Respect – We listen, and respect people, the environment, and the communities in which we live and work.
· Transparency – Transparency builds trust. We promote open communication with our people, our customers, and all our stakeholders.
· Diversity – We value diversity of experiences and thoughts. It takes people with different strengths and backgrounds to make our company succeed.
NextDecade provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. NextDecade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.