Head of Contracts Excellence

Smiths Detection; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection seeks an experienced commercial and contracts leader to establish and head our global Contracts Excellence function. This strategic role drives best practice, governance and capability development across contract management globally, with a focus on aftermarket, service and managed services, while strengthening governance, risk management and customer relationships.

You will partner with commercial, programme, service, legal and finance teams across seven regions to strengthen

Qualifications

• Significant experience in contract management leadership within a multinational organisation.
• Strong experience managing complex aftermarket, service, support or managed service contracts.
• Experience across the full contract lifecycle from negotiation through delivery, change management and renewal.
• Commercial governance and contract management framework development experience.
• Experience leading contract management teams and developing capability across organisations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience working within international B2B customer environments.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the global Contracts Excellence function.
• Define and deploy best practice contract management frameworks, standards and methodologies.
• Build a consistent global approach to contract lifecycle management.
• Develop governance, assurance and performance management processes.
• Act as the subject matter expert on contract management strategy, governance and commercial risk.
• Drive aftermarket & service contract excellence, including management of complex service agreements.
• Develop frameworks covering managed services, maintenance contracts, service agreements and SLAs.
• Improve contractual performance and customer value across service portfolios.
• Support regional teams managing customer-facing service contracts.
• Partner across global programmes to ensure governance throughout the lifecycle.
• Improve visibility of contractual risks, obligations and opportunities.
• Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement.
• Develop tools, templates and playbooks across the business.

Skills

Contract management leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial governance

Global/multinational experience

B2B service/aftermarket

Negotiation

Change management

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced commercial and contracts leader to establish and lead our global Contracts Excellence function.

This is a strategically important leadership role responsible for driving best practice, governance, capability development and continuous improvement across contract management activities globally.

A significant focus of the role will be supporting our growing aftermarket, service, support and managed service businesses, ensuring commercial value is maximised throughout the contract lifecycle while maintaining strong governance, risk management and customer relationships.

Working across seven international market regions, you will act as the global owner of contract management excellence, partnering with commercial, programme, service, legal and finance teams to strengthen commercial discipline, improve contract performance and enhance customer outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Establish and lead the global Contracts Excellence function.
• Define and deploy best practice contract management frameworks, standards and methodologies.
• Build a consistent global approach to contract lifecycle management.
• Develop governance, assurance and performance management processes.
• Act as the subject matter expert on contract management strategy, governance and commercial risk.

Drive Aftermarket & Service Contract Excellence

• Support and improve management of complex aftermarket, support and service agreements.
• Develop frameworks covering:
  • Managed services
  • Maintenance contracts
  • Service agreements
  • Framework agreements
  • Long-term support arrangements
  • Renewals and extensions
  • Service level agreements
  • Change management
• Improve contractual performance and customer value across service portfolios.
• Support regional teams managing customer-facing service contracts.

Partner Across Global Programmes

• Bring consistency across programme and service contract management.
• Support commercial governance throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Improve visibility of contractual risks, obligations and opportunities.
• Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement.

Develop Capability Across the Business

• Build a global community of contract management professionals.
• Mentor, coach and support regional teams.
• Develop tools, templates and playbooks.
• Promote commercial and contractual best practice across the organisation.

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in candidates who have built their careers within B2B service, aftermarket, support or contract management environments.

You will likely bring experience from sectors such as:

• Defence
• Aerospace
• Security
• Technology
• Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Utilities

Why Join Smiths Detection?

This is a unique opportunity to shape how contract management is delivered across a global technology business operating at the forefront of security, defence, aviation and critical infrastructure.

You'll have the opportunity to build a truly global centre of excellence, influence senior stakeholders across the organisation and drive measurable improvements in commercial performance, contractual governance and customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in contract management leadership within a multinational organisation.
• Strong experience managing complex aftermarket, service, support or managed service contracts.
• Experience across the full contract lifecycle from negotiation through delivery, change management and renewal.
• Commercial governance and contract management framework development experience.
• Experience leading contract management teams and developing capability across organisations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience working within international B2B customer environments.

Highly Desirable

• Experience supporting both service contracts and major programme contracts.
• Commercial or legal background.
• Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) framework implementation experience.
• Defence, aviation, security screening or critical infrastructure experience.
• Experience leading commercial transformation initiatives.

Additional Information

Join us and we'll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You'll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You'll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial andlifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.