Contract Manager (Emirati Talent)

Edge Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional defense company in the UAE seeks a Contract Manager to support supplier contract activities. The role involves drafting, negotiating, and monitoring contracts while ensuring compliance with legal standards. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years' experience in contract management, especially in procurement settings, along with a relevant legal qualification. This position offers significant career development for UAE Nationals, emphasizing collaboration with various stakeholders and enhancing supplier governance in a leading defense organization.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' experience in contract management with supplier-facing contracts.
• Professional contract management qualification preferred.
• Legal practice background focusing on contracts.
• Familiarity with complex regulated industries like Defence or Aerospace.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full contract lifecycle from drafting to execution.
• Ensure contracts meet legal and compliance standards.
• Monitor supplier performance against contracts.
• Support strategic initiatives with contract design.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation skills

Supplier governance

Compliance knowledge

Risk management

Stakeholder collaboration

Performance monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law (LLB/LLM)

Tools

ERP systems (SAP)

Contract management tools (SAP Ariba)

Job description

HALCON Overview

HALCON is a leading regional and international defense company, specializing in next-generation weapons systems and robotics. With end-to-end capabilities spanning design, development, testing, manufacturing, and assembly, HALCON is trusted for delivering exceptional quality, competitive pricing, and agile solutions that meet the evolving demands of global defense and aerospace industries.

Job Summary

The Contract Manager plays a vital role in supporting HALCON’s supplier contract activities by managing drafting, negotiation, execution, and performance monitoring across the full contract lifecycle. The role focuses on ensuring contractual clarity, protecting commercial and legal interests, and enabling effective collaboration between Supply Chain, Legal, and key internal stakeholders.

This position offers a strong career development opportunity for UAE Nationals, providing hands-on exposure to contract drafting, negotiation, supplier governance, and compliance frameworks within a leading defense and manufacturing organisation. It is designed to build solid commercial and legal foundations while supporting long-term growth within HALCON’s supply chain and contracts function.

Key Accountabilities

• Contract Lifecycle Management
  • Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, execution, and administration of supplier contracts and T&C’s across all phases of the lifecycle.
  • Ensure that contracts and T&C’s are clear, enforceable, and aligned with company policies, compliance requirements, and strategic objectives.
  • Maintain accurate records of contract documents, amendments, and correspondence to support governance and audit readiness.
  • Proactively manage contract renewals, expirations, and terminations to avoid commercial or operational risk.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for supplier-facing contractual matters within Supply Chain Management.
  • Ensure suppliers understand and adhere to contractual obligations, including delivery, quality, compliance, and performance commitments.
  • Monitor and manage supplier performance against contractual terms, escalating issues where required.
  • Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities by ensuring contractual frameworks underpin effective performance monitoring and collaboration.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Partner closely with the Legal team to ensure contracts are compliant with applicable law and company risk management standards.
  • Work with Supply Chain colleagues, Program teams, Finance, and Engineering to ensure contract terms and/or T&C’s reflect business needs and deliver operational value.
  • Provide contract-related guidance, training, and support to stakeholders across the organisation.
  • Act as a trusted advisor, helping stakeholders balance risk, cost, and operational priorities through effective contractual solutions.
• Risk Management and Compliance
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial, operational, and legal risks within supplier contracts and T&C’s.
  • Ensure adherence to Export Control, ITAR/EAR, anti-bribery, data protection, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Support audits, compliance checks, and reporting requirements related to supplier contracts and T&C’s.
  • Develop and maintain risk registers and ensure high-risk suppliers are subject to enhanced monitoring and controls.
• Continuous Improvement and Reporting
  • Contribute to the development of standardised contract templates, playbooks, and best practices for the SCM function.
  • Drive process efficiency and governance improvements in contract management activities and provide training and support where required.
  • Provide regular updates and reporting to SCM leadership on contract status, supplier compliance, risks, and opportunities.
  • Support strategic initiatives (e.g., in-country value, localisation, or supplier development programmes) through contract design and execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• 7+ years’ experience in contract management, with a strong focus on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and terms & conditions in a supply chain/procurement, supplier-facing environment.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law (LLB/LLM) with focus on commercial/contracts is highly preferred.
• Professional contract management qualification (e.g. WorldCC/IACCM Contract & Commercial Management, Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) with contract modules, or similar recognised UK/International certification).
• Legal practice background with exposure to drafting and reviewing supplier-facing contracts.
• Advanced certifications in commercial/contract law (e.g. UK PGCert in Commercial & Contract Law, Chartered Legal Executive (CILEx), or similar).
• Familiarity with working in complex, regulated industries (Defence, Aerospace, Engineering, or similar).
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g. SAP) and contract management tools (e.g. SAP Ariba).