Contracts Lead

Gatwick Airport Limited; Crawley Down; On-site; GBP 88,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Free staff parking

Rail travel discounts

Share matching scheme

Flexible benefits

Career progression

Job summary

Gatwick Airport Limited in Crawley, West Sussex, is seeking a Contracts Lead to drive contract strategy across major construction projects within a live operational environment.

You'll own governance, NEC contract forms, and dispute resolution, working with project teams, procurement and legal specialists to ensure value, minimise risk and deliver successful outcomes. The role is office-first hybrid with three days in the office and two days remote.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Construction Law, Commercial Management, or a related field
• Deep knowledge of NEC contracts and Construction Law
• Proven experience managing contract claims and disputes in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience supporting major infrastructure or capital programmes
• Commercially astute with a track record of delivering against challenging targets
• Professional membership (e.g. RICS) desirable

Responsibilities

• Lead contract expertise across the Construction team, supporting all contract forms with a focus on NEC
• Own and continuously improve Gatwick's suite of standard contract templates
• Provide assurance that contracts are clear, robust, and fit for purpose
• Manage and resolve commercial queries, disputes, and escalations
• Lead dispute resolution processes and meetings, ensuring optimal outcomes
• Partner with the Construction Lawyer to ensure compliance and governance
• Support procurement strategy by advising on the right contract approach for each project
• Negotiate rates with consultants and contractors to achieve best market value
• Deliver training and share best practice across programme teams
• Identify opportunities to drive cost and programme efficiencies through effective contract use
• Foster collaborative relationships across the supply chain to reduce disputes and enhance long-term value

Education

Degree in Construction Law or Commercial Management

Job description

Contracts Lead Gatwick Airport Limited Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Contracts Lead – Construction

From £98,000 + 5% Welcome Bonus* + £7,500 Flex Allowance + up to 30% Bonus + Benefits

Great journeys happen at London Gatwick. Where will your career take you?

The buzz, the energy, the sheer magic of travel… You can feel it in the air all around you. Here, you'll be part of an energetic team and a vibrant community. We can help you thrive in a career that's a world away from the everyday.

This role takes an office first hybrid approach here at London Gatwick, with three days a week in the office, two days remote, managed around the needs of the business.

What is the role?

London Gatwick is evolving rapidly, presenting an exciting opportunity for a Contracts Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping how we deliver major construction projects across the airport.

As Contracts Lead, you'll sit at the heart of our Construction function, driving excellence in contract strategy, governance, and dispute resolution. You'll work closely with project teams, procurement, and legal specialists to ensure our contracts deliver value, minimise risk, and support successful project outcomes.

This is a high-impact role where your expertise will directly influence how we deliver complex infrastructure in a live operational environment.

What will you do?

• Lead contract expertise across the Construction team, supporting all contract forms with a focus on NEC
• Own and continuously improve Gatwick's suite of standard contract templates
• Provide assurance that contracts are clear, robust, and fit for purpose
• Manage and resolve commercial queries, disputes, and escalations
• Lead dispute resolution processes and meetings, ensuring optimal outcomes
• Partner with the Construction Lawyer to ensure compliance and governance
• Support procurement strategy by advising on the right contract approach for each project
• Negotiate rates with consultants and contractors to achieve best market value
• Deliver training and share best practice across programme teams
• Identify opportunities to drive cost and programme efficiencies through effective contract use
• Foster collaborative relationships across the supply chain to reduce disputes and enhance long-term value

Do you have what we're looking for?

The live environment at London Gatwick requires all our teams to have a flexible and adaptable approach, with problem solving skills and an innovative outlook. In addition, this role requires:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Construction Law, Commercial Management, or a related field
• Deep knowledge of NEC contracts and Construction Law
• Proven experience managing contract claims and disputes in complex environments
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience supporting major infrastructure or capital programmes
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Commercially astute with a track record of delivering against challenging targets
• Professional membership (e.g. RICS) is desirable

What's in it for you?

We value our people and reward every employee fairly with a highly competitive package, enhanced by a discretionary annual bonus, free staff parking, discounted rail travel to work, share matching scheme and more. We offer a rewarding world of flexible benefits you can tailor to the things that matter to you most.

There are also plenty of opportunities for career progression, as well as training to support your personal and professional development.

At London Gatwick, we're also very well connected, just 30 minutes from central London and directly linked to over 100 towns and cities. Whether you prefer to travel by cycle, electric car, or train, we aim to make your journey to work as convenient and cost-effective as possible.

Our employees tell us that working here is something special and no day is like another, where our teams do something every day that other airports only dream of. Along with a competitive salary, our employees enjoy a range of personal, health and financial benefits, including:

• 5% Welcome Bonus*
• Performance-based bonus scheme
• High street shops and restaurant discounts
• Life and disability insurance
• Professional training to develop
• Free holiday parking
• Discounted travel to work schemes
• Free on-site parking

What's it like to work at London Gatwick?

At London Gatwick, our people are our biggest asset. We want our people to thrive and have the best experience while working with us. We know we are all at our best when we feel comfortable and included.

We are an organisation that places diversity, equity and inclusion at its heart. Our aim; to create a place where everyone belongs and has a voice, and we recognise that we all play an important role in our success.

London Gatwick supports an inclusive recruitment process, enabling you to perform at your best. Please make us aware, as part of your application, should you require any reasonable adjustments.

Please note: The Welcome Bonus is intended to support the attraction of new Construction talent to London Gatwick. As such, it is available to new external hires only and does not apply to individuals returning to employment with the business or internal transfers.