Commercial Contract Manager

Chess Dynamics Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK defense contractor seeks an experienced full-time Commercial Contracts Manager to oversee contract negotiations and manage relationships with stakeholders. This role involves providing commercial advice, ensuring compliance, and supporting internal teams throughout the contract lifecycle. Candidates should have experience in defense contracting and the ability to assess risks. The position offers a hybrid work model with 28 days of annual leave and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Lunchtime finishes on Fridays

Holiday purchasing scheme

Hybrid/flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience negotiating and managing contracts for large governmental and defense customers.
• Knowledge of International and UK defence contracting environment.
• Experience interacting with various stakeholders across business boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Manage contractual activities in the tender process.
• Provide commercial guidance on tender terms to the Sales team.
• Monitor contract progress and resolve disputes effectively.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Job description

Chess is seeking to appoint an experienced, full-time, Commercial Contracts Manager to support the growth of the business.

As part of the Commercial function, you will work with multiple stakeholders in developing commercial solutions for tender responses issued by the major OEM’s and government authorities and subsequently providing commercial management of orders and contracts.

Key Responsibilities :

• Responsibility for contractual activities in the tender process including the preparation of responses to contract conditions and negotiating the final contract.
• Provision of advice and guidance to all departments including Sales, PMO, Supply Chain and Engineering on commercial risks.
• Review, negotiate and authorise various other agreements including but not limited to NDAs, Loan Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding and Supplier Declarations.
• Provision of drafting input and obtain approval for agreements including compliance with due diligence policies.
• Obtaining approval from parent company legal counsel for clauses which fall outside of the agreed parameters.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Provide commercial guidance on tender terms and conditions to the Sales team.
• Support the Supply Chain team in the drafting and negotiation of sub-contracts.
• Provide the Project Management Office with commercial advice and support regarding effective contract execution through the contract lifecycle, from order through to contract closure.
• Monitor contract progress and proactively resolve potential disputes.
• Provide guidance and support resolution of contractual conflicts.
• Calculate potential commercial risks.
• Calculate and enforce Variation of Price (VoP) clauses.
• Support continuous improvements, implement and ensure adherence to process and the Distribution of Authority (DOA).
• Support audits as and when required.

Skills & Experience

Essential :

• Experience with the negotiation and administration of contracts for large governmental and prime contractor customers such as UK Government, Ministry of Defence, US DoD and / or other major defence prime contractors.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of the International and UK defence contracting environment (or similar), with a detailed understanding of pricing, contract terms and conditions, financing and a working knowledge of contract law.
• Previous experience in working across internal and external business boundaries with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in working with international organisations outside the UK.

Personal Attributes :

• Ability to think pragmatically when assessing contractual risk and offer mitigation strategies to the business.
• A mature approach and an understanding of own current capability.
• Highly motivated
• Applies a high level of attention to detail

Work life balance :

• 37.5 hour working week
• Lunchtime finishes on a Friday, Hybrid / flexible working arrangements
• 28 days annual leave
• Christmas closure, Holiday purchasing scheme