Contracts Group Leader

BAE Systems; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Preston is seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Group Leader. This role involves managing complex projects, negotiating contracts, and collaborating across functions. Candidates should have strong leadership skills and experience in contract management. The position offers a competitive salary and hybrid working arrangements., with additional employee benefits.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience of leading proposals and negotiation and applying appropriate corporate governance throughout.
• Good understanding of commercial legal issues, contracting principles, and terms and conditions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to articulate and influence others.

Responsibilities

• Delivering complex projects and bid activities.
• Interpreting customer requirements and identifying risks.
• Supporting adherence to governance and financial commitments.

Skills

Leading proposals and negotiation

Collaboration with Finance, Legal, Tax, Business Development

Understanding of various contract types

Knowledge of commercial legal issues

Stakeholder management

Strong written and verbal communication

Education

Degree level qualification in a business-related subject

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Senior Contracts Group Leader

Location: Warton - We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: £54,793+

What you’ll be doing

• Delivering complex projects and bid activities for the function, collaborating across the broader organisation, drafting and negotiating complex proposals, terms & conditions, agreements, and changes
• Interpreting and communicating customer requirements, identifying commercial risks and opportunities, devising appropriate mitigations including seeking, presenting and obtaining relevant approvals
• Supporting the business to adhere to required governance and deliver upon its contractual and financial commitments
• Understanding and ensuring compliance to contracting regulations
• Managing, developing and mentoring junior members of the team

Your skills and experiences

Essentials:

• Experience of leading proposals and negotiation and applying appropriate corporate governance throughout
• Experience of working closely and collaboratively with adjacent functions, eg Finance, Legal, Group Tax, Business Development, Project Management, and Engineering
• Experience/awareness of various contract types
• Good understanding of commercial legal issues, contracting principles, terms and conditions, drafting, sub-contract considerations, funding and payment plans
• Key strengths in stakeholder management, collaboration and adaptability
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to articulate and influence others, forging working relationships with peers, colleagues and stakeholders

Desirables:

• Understanding and in experience of dealing within various contracting regulations
• Degree level qualification in a business-related subject, or equivalent commercial experience

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Air Commercial Team

The Air Commercial Team is a vital part of the Commercial Function, ensuring that BAE Systems’ proposals and contracts are developed, approved, and delivered to the highest standards. Based at our Warton and Samlesbury sites, the team works closely with customers and internal stakeholders to negotiate and manage agreements that provide a robust commercial framework, minimising risk while maximising shareholder value.

This is a dynamic and challenging environment, offering exposure to both UK and international operations, and the chance to gain insight into how contracts underpin the success of world-class aerospace projects. Team members benefit from a structured training programme, on-the-job experience, and the opportunity to pursue professional accreditation via IACCM, supporting personal growth and career development across a variety of transferable skills.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date

29th October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.