Contract Manager (3 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Kwalee; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic game development company in Royal Leamington Spa is seeking a Contract Manager or IP Specialist to provide legal advice and manage commercial contracts. The ideal candidate should have 3-5 years of experience in a reputable law firm or in-house legal team, demonstrating skills in commercial contracts and intellectual property. This role offers a collaborative environment focused on innovation and includes generous holiday, flexible working, and health cover.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Private medical cover

On-site gym

Unlimited free snacks and drinks

Unique gaming goodies

Dog-friendly office

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a reputable law firm or an in-house legal team.
• Demonstrable experience in commercial contracts and intellectual property.
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Manage the commercial contracts function including drafting and negotiating agreements.
• Provide strategic advice on protecting company IP.
• Ensure compliance with global data protection laws.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Intellectual property

Data privacy laws

Consumer protection laws

Excellent communication

Negotiation skills

Contract signature tools

Education

3-5 years PQE in law

Job description

Kwalee has been making the most fun games for the world’s players for over a decade. By joining our talented team, you’ll be part of a space where ideas flow freely, innovation flourishes, and team spirit stays strong.

We’ve found that when we’re all together, great things happen. With over 1 billion players already reached, your work will contribute to our shared mission of making the most fun games for the world's players.

We are seeking an immediately available talented and pragmatic Contract Manager or an IP Specialist to join our in-house legal team in Leamington Spa.

This is a dynamic, hands‑on role where you will be a key business partner, providing legal advice on a wide range of issues that are core to Kwalee’s video game development and publishing operations. A key part of this role will be to oversee the operational side of the commercial contracts function, ensuring efficiency and consistency across the business.

The ideal candidate will have solid experience across commercial contracts, intellectual property, and experience of interpreting regulatory requirements and translating them into practical means of compliance. An understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape of the video games industry would be a significant advantage. This is a temporary role based in our Leamington Spa studio, where our daily in‑office collaboration fuels creativity and innovation.

Responsibiulities

• Commercial & Corporate Oversight: Manage the commercial contracts function, including drafting, reviewing, amending and negotiating a variety of agreements such as: development, licensing, marketing, and vendor contracts.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy: Provide strategic advice on protecting company IP, specifically copyright and trademark, and oversee the IP portfolio by coordinating with external legal teams.
• IP Risk Management: Advise on potential IP‑related risks such as copyright infringement and fair use, draft and file takedown notices for clone games.
• Global Regulatory Monitoring: Stay current with and advise on emerging global regulations affecting the video games industry, particularly in the UK, EU, and US.
• Online Safety Compliance: Provide legal guidance on compliance with laws like the UK Online Safety Act, focusing on user‑to‑user services, content moderation, and child safety.
• Data Privacy Compliance: Ensure the company complies with global data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA regarding player data.
• Consumer Protection: Address legal issues related to consumer protection, including in‑game purchases, virtual currencies, and monetization models like loot boxes.
• Advertising & Marketing Compliance: Ensure advertising and marketing campaigns adhere to legal standards and consumer protection laws.
• Legal Operations: help improve legal operations by developing procedures and providing training to the business.
• Support the senior members of the legal team as required and meet the established deadlines.

Required Skills

• Minimum of 3 -5 years of experience (PQE) in a reputable law firm or an in‑house legal team.
• Demonstrable experience in commercial contracts, intellectual property, and a working knowledge of data privacy and consumer protection laws.
• Able to work independently with limited supervision as well as working collaboratively with other legal team members and stakeholders within the business.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable business advice for non‑legal teams.
• Knowledge of using contract signature and legal research tools.
• Organised with a willingness to learn and develop within the role.
• A genuine interest in the video games industry and a passion for technology and media.

Desired Skills

• Previous in‑house experience in a games, tech, or entertainment company, or previous experience in private practice at a firm with a strong video games practice.
• Experience in publishing and digital content licensing.
• Commercially minded with a willingness to find solutions.
• Experience with international commercial and regulatory issues.
• An interest in video games helps but is not essential!

Why Kwalee?

Generous Holiday: Start with 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays. You'll also earn an extra day for every year of service, up to 5 years!

Flexible Working: We offer core hours that allow you to work flexibly around your life, and a bank of 'Work From Home' days to use when you need them.

Health Cover: Private medical cover, life assurance, a solid pension plan, and cover for dental and optical care.

Recharge: Take advantage of our on‑site gym and a supportive atmosphere that prioritises your wellbeing.

Free Food & Drink: Fuel your day with unlimited free snacks and drinks.

Gaming Goodies: Receive Steam codes for all our game releases!

Dog‑Friendly Office: Bring your furry friend to our vibrant, fun office.

Office Location: Leamington Spa office location, with from parking and electric charging stations.

Merch & Events: Get exclusive Kwalee merch, enjoy fun seasonal events, and stay informed with regular town halls.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At Kwalee, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, where we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving creativity. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Our culture is built on celebrating the diverse voices of our team members, fuelling innovation and strengthening our connection to our players. We are dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of life, including age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

We recognise the importance of self‑development, career progression, and well‑being in retaining our talented team. At Kwalee, we celebrate individuality and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.