Commercial Contracts Manager

International Baccalaureate; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 88,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits allowance (1.5% UK)

10% employer pension contribution

30 days annual leave

Life assurance 4x annual salary

Flexible working hours

Job summary

The International Baccalaureate is seeking a Commercial Contracts Manager to lead end-to-end negotiations with digital software vendors across the IB’s global footprint, focusing on three key verticals. The role requires strong commercial acumen, contract drafting, and risk management to ensure delivery excellence of assessment and education technology products.

Based in Cardiff with responsibilities spanning UK and NL operations, you will coordinate with Legal, Delivery and Information Security

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading commercial negotiations and contract lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of digital software vendors, SaaS platforms and education technology solutions.
• Experience negotiating complex pricing, IP rights, service levels and termination provisions.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into commercial and contractual terms.
• Knowledge of enterprise software delivery, release cycles and integration considerations.
• Proven track record of identifying and mitigating commercial risk in high-value supplier relationships.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end commercial negotiations with digital assessment and software vendors.
• Draft, review and finalise commercial contracts, MSAs, SLAs, NDAs and implementation agreements.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks while leading pricing and performance discussions.
• Translate programme milestones into enforceable contractual deliverables and payment triggers.
• Define acceptance criteria and release readiness gates for vendor deliverables.
• Implement evidence-based milestone sign-off and payment mechanisms.
• Secure IP protections, continuity safeguards and structured exit provisions.
• Partner with Legal, Delivery and Information Security teams to embed risk and compliance requirements.
• Maintain visibility of material contract risks and support governance forums with commercial insights.

Job description

Job Description

Salary: HG18 up to £98,000 | €130,000

Job Type: UK - Full-Time, Permanent | Netherlands - Initial contract period of 12 months followed by an indefinite contract

Location: Cardiff, UK | The Hague, Netherlands

Hybrid working: 2 days in office

About The IB

The International Baccalaureate provides world-class educational services to over 6,000 schools across 160 countries. A career with the IB is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to work with an innovative world leader in education services where we empower our employees to thrive and make a difference.

About The Job

The Commercial Contracts Manager will act as the primary liaison and key account lead for a flagship partner that is providing digital software for three key verticals of the IB. This role combines commercial negotiation excellence, technology acumen, and vendor relationship management to secure optimal commercial outcomes and ensure delivery excellence of assessment and education technology products and services.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end commercial negotiations with digital assessment and software vendors.
• Draft, review and finalise commercial contracts, MSAs, SLAs, NDAs and implementation agreements.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks while leading pricing and performance discussions.
• Translate programme milestones into enforceable contractual deliverables and payment triggers.
• Define acceptance criteria and release readiness gates for vendor deliverables.
• Implement evidence-based milestone sign-off and payment mechanisms.
• Secure IP protections, continuity safeguards and structured exit provisions.
• Partner with Legal, Delivery and Information Security teams to embed risk and compliance requirements.
• Maintain visibility of material contract risks and support governance forums with commercial insights.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading commercial negotiations and contract lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of digital software vendors, SaaS platforms and education technology solutions.
• Experience negotiating complex pricing, IP rights, service levels and termination provisions.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into commercial and contractual terms.
• Knowledge of enterprise software delivery, release cycles and integration considerations.
• Proven track record of identifying and mitigating commercial risk in high-value supplier relationships.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.

UK Benefits

• Flexible benefits allowance equivalent to 1.5% of Annual Salary to spend on benefits or as addition to salary
• 10% employer pension contribution with a 3% employee contribution
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• 30 Days annual leave, plus public holidays
• Life assurance 4x annual salary
• Flexible working hours (core hours are 10am-12pm and 2pm-3pm), 37.5 hours per week
• Paid volunteering leave
• Excellent continuous professional development

Netherlands Benefits

• Flexible benefits allowance equivalent to 2.5% of Annual Salary to spend on benefits or as addition to salary
• Flexible working (core hours are 10am-3.30pm), 40 hours per week
• 30 days annual leave
• Bicycle scheme
• IB Pension
• Life insurance 2x annual salary
• Transportation and work from home allowance
• Health insurance allowance
• Disability insurance
• Excellent continuous professional development

Opportunity & Belonging

We are committed to building a working environment that values respect, diversity, and compassion. The International Baccalaureate is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all qualified applicants. As a global employer, we adhere to all relevant employment legislation in the countries in which we operate, and we’re happy to provide any reasonable support or adjustments as needed to ensure applicants can fully participate in our recruitment process.