Contracts Manager

Copello; Buckingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Copello is recruiting a Contracts Manager for a Marlow-based aerospace and defence business on a 12-month contract. You will negotiate terms, review customer and supplier agreements and manage a range of contracts across international programmes.

You will liaise with the Head of Contracts and Commercial to support bids, manage risk and ensure timely approvals while advising internal teams on contractual obligations and compliance.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of contract law and commercial contract management.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple contractual activities and meet required timescales.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft and negotiate customer and supplier contracts, ensuring commercially acceptable terms and appropriate risk management.
• Support bids, tenders and new business opportunities by reviewing contractual requirements and securing internal approvals.
• Manage a range of agreements, including sales and procurement contracts, framework agreements, NDAs, teaming agreements and long-term government contracts.
• Identify and resolve contractual issues throughout the project lifecycle, including variations, disputes and ongoing customer obligations.
• Work closely with sales, business development, procurement, engineering, quality assurance and export control teams.
• Ensure relevant customer contractual requirements are flowed down to key suppliers.
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to internal stakeholders, helping teams understand contractual obligations and best practice.

Skills

Contract law

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Communication

Contract drafting

Education

Law or Business degree

Job description

Contracts Manager

6-9 Month Contract Buckinghamshire

We are seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to join a specialist aerospace and defence communications business based in Marlow on an initial 12-month contract.

Working closely with the Head of Contracts and Commercial, you will play a key role in negotiating new commercial agreements, managing existing contracts and supporting business growth across a range of international aerospace and defence programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft and negotiate customer and supplier contracts, ensuring commercially acceptable terms and appropriate risk management.
• Support bids, tenders and new business opportunities by reviewing contractual requirements and securing internal approvals.
• Manage a range of agreements, including sales and procurement contracts, framework agreements, NDAs, teaming agreements and long-term government contracts.
• Identify and resolve contractual issues throughout the project lifecycle, including variations, disputes and ongoing customer obligations.
• Work closely with sales, business development, procurement, engineering, quality assurance and export control teams.
• Ensure relevant customer contractual requirements are flowed down to key suppliers.
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to internal stakeholders, helping teams understand contractual obligations and best practice.

Essential Experience

• Strong practical knowledge of contract law and commercial contract management.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple contractual activities and conclude negotiations within required timescales.

Desirable Experience

• 5+ years' commercial experience within the defence, aerospace or land systems sectors.
• Knowledge of UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and/or US Department of Defense (DoD) contracts.
• Experience working within an international commercial environment.
• World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) Commercial & Contract Management Practitioner qualification.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Law or Business Studies.
• Active UK Security Check (SC) clearance.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute Contracts Manager to contribute to a specialist defence and aerospace business, supporting complex customer relationships, negotiating key agreements and managing commercial risk across the contract lifecycle.