Contracts Manager

McGraw-Hill; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational publishing company is seeking a Contracts Manager to join their Contract Management team in Bridgwater. The role involves supporting business transactions, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, at least 7 years of relevant experience in commercial law, and strong negotiation skills. The company offers a collaborative environment that values continuous improvement and efficiency.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of applicable experience or 5+ years with managerial experience preferred.
• Experience in commercial law, including contract negotiation and management.
• Proven ability to independently draft and negotiate commercial agreements.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex agreements.
• Collaborate across Global Procurement Operations (GPO) to ensure a consistent approach.
• Deliver timely legal support in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Attention to detail

Leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Contracts Manager

Build the Future

Are you detail-oriented with a system-thinking mindset? Join McGraw Hill as a Contracts Manager within our Contract Management (CM) team in Global Procurement Operations (GPO). You'll support business transactions and commercial agreements, ensuring compliance and protecting McGraw Hill's legal and business interests.

How Will You Make an Impact?

You will be involved in the negotiation of contracts, supporting Assistant GCs in CM, working with Global Procurement and business stakeholders on deal structure and terms, managing contract lifecycle alongside CM Operations colleagues, and identifying improvements in templates, playbooks, processes, and strategies for Contract Management.

What can you expect from the position:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex agreements (IP/IT, content, services, and general commercial).
• Collaborate across Global Procurement Operations (GPO) to ensure a consistent, goal-aligned approach.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies (e.g., data ethics, accessibility, tax) when engaging third parties.
• Deliver timely legal support in a fast-paced environment, meeting internal SLAs.
• Mentor junior CM team members and support their development.
• Engage with systems, workflows, and technologies across CM and GPO.
• Create and improve tools and resources (e.g., playbooks, training, internal communications) to support contract processes.
• Stay informed on legal and industry developments relevant to contract management.

What can you bring to the role:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of applicable experience or 5+ years with managerial experience preferred.
• Experience in commercial law, including contract negotiation and management.
• Proven ability to independently draft and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Strong leadership and experience managing junior staff.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word.
• Preference for in-house legal experience in a corporate environment.
• Industry experience in publishing, edtech, or technology sectors.

Why Work with Us?

At McGraw Hill, we believe great operations power great learning experiences. You'll join a supportive team that values accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement. Whether you're maintaining critical systems or supporting contract visibility, your work will help drive efficiency and compliance in support of our global mission.

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