Contracts Manager

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defence firm in Luton is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to provide oversight on various commercial contracts within the Electronic Warfare division. The successful candidate will guide strategic bids and contract management, ensuring effective risk mitigation and fostering relationships with UK and international clients. This role offers a hybrid working option, making it an exciting opportunity for professionals looking to advance their careers in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Generous leave with additional flexi-days

Up to 15% employer contribution pension scheme

Free mental health support

Access to online courses

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience in commercial contract management in Aerospace and Defence.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to draft complex contracts.
• Ability to manage commercial risks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight to contracts and bids in the Aerospace and Defence sector.
• Draft and negotiate terms and conditions of contracts.
• Produce commercial strategies for key programmes and customers.

Skills

Influence at senior levels

Relationship-building

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Relevant degree or professional qualification (e.g. IACCM / WCC)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Description : Your impact

Do you have a variety of previous Commercial experience the Aerospace and Defence Sector and looking for a new opportunity to take on a senior role within a dynamic team?

We have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Contracts Manager to join our commercial team at Leonardo working within the Electronic Warfare (EW)division which is a major growth area with ambitious targets over the short to medium term.

As part of the Integrated Mission Solutions (IMS) sector within the EW division, you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting the business, interfacing with a variety of UK and International customers focused within both the UK and Export arena, working as part of integrated project teams (IPTs). You will have responsibility for the maintenance of current contracts and development of commercial bids / proposals, providing strategic and commercially sound guidance on challenging contracts and opportunities within the business.

The successful candidate will have a successful record of accomplishment in a commercial business winning and contract management capacity in the Aerospace and Defence Sector and have experience working within a fast-paced and challenging environment.

This role is required to work at tight timeframes, so excellent communication skills and ability to prioritise is a must. In return, this role provides a high level of variety of contracts, customers and work environments.

The role could be based at either or Lincoln or Luton sites, on a hybrid working basis

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to take their next step in Commercial experience, leading a variety of bids and contracts for key programmes, products and customers.

• Provide strategic and tactical oversight to a number contracts and bid activities.
• Drafting, negotiating and administration of complex terms and conditions of contract, working with Procurement counterparts to ensure appropriate flow through with subcontractors.
• Produce, document, and brief [obtaining any necessary approvals] clear and informed commercial strategies to leverage the best possible outcomes for Leonardo UK.
• Produce accurate and compliant customer pricing by applying the appropriate pricing strategy and model to cost estimates.
• Take the lead in producing clear and concise correspondence, obtaining stakeholder input as and when required.
• Drafting and reviewing agreements such as Non-Disclosure Agreements, Software Licensing Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding and other T&Cs.
• Providing commercial leadership and administration to projects and / or contracts, including change control management, monitoring performance of its contractual obligations and management of commercial risk.
• Preparing proposals for submission to Customers in conjunction with the preparation of internal documentation required to obtain bid approval.
• Ensuring adherence to commercial and business processes.
• Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues and customers to deliver the value to the company.
• Work as an integral member of the Integrated Project Management Team
• Managing own workload, highlighting areas of conflict or priority and effectively managing stakeholder and customer expectations.

What you’ll bring

• Proven ability to advocate and influence at senior levels within organisations.
• Strong experience working with UK Government and international contracts.
• In‑depth understanding of business finance including profit & loss, margins, mark‑up, escalation, and foreign exchange.
• Good knowledge of export legislation, import taxes, and duties.
• High‑level understanding of contract law and its application.
• Ability to identify and manage commercial risks, implementing effective mitigation strategies.
• Strong relationship‑building skills across cross‑functional teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Willingness to travel within the UK (possible overseas travel).

It would be nice if you had :

• A relevant degree or professional qualification (e.g. IACCM / WCC) and / or defence contracting experience.
• Detailed understanding of Leonardo markets, products, customers, and suppliers.
• Ability to promote a culture of best practice and knowledge sharing across the function and wider business.
• Familiarity with SAP and its functionality.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit :

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge : Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future : Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters : Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance : All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning : Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend : Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks : Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working : Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

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