Commercial Contract Manager

Chess Dynamics Ltd; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Horsham seeks an experienced full-time Commercial Contracts Manager to manage contracts and provide commercial guidance. You will negotiate contracts and support tender responses for major clients, including UK Government and Ministry of Defence. This role offers hybrid working arrangements, a 37.5-hour work week, and 28 days of annual leave. The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in government contract negotiation and a deep understanding of contract law.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangements

28 days annual leave

Lunchtime finishes on Fridays

Holiday purchasing scheme

Qualifications

• Experience with initiatives for large governmental and prime contractor customers.
• Knowledge of the UK defense contracting environment and related laws.
• Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders across business boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead contractual activities in the tender process and negotiate contracts.
• Provide commercial advice to departments on risks.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the drafting and negotiation of sub-contracts.

Skills

Negotiation of contracts

Contract administration

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

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