Legal Contracts Delivery Manager

DWF; Leeds; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

DWF, a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services, seeks a Contracts Delivery Manager to join our Central Legal Operations team in Manchester. You will lead the delivery of commercial contracting projects, combining your contract expertise with project management, client relationships and legal technology.

Reporting to the Operations Delivery Director, you will shape contract management solutions, collaborate with the Legal Advisory teams and our offshore delivery centre

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 3–5 years PQE specialising in commercial contracts.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Experience using CLM platforms or technology-enabled legal service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of contracting projects including review and negotiation of commercial contracts.
• Develop contract templates and playbooks and support CLM implementation.
• Assess contractual risk and manage escalations to deliver high-quality service.
• Collaborate with legal teams, clients and offshore delivery centre to ensure timely delivery.
• Support business development and drive continuous improvement in legal tech-enabled delivery.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Client relationship management

Contract risk assessment

Legal technology / CLM

Education

Qualified solicitor with 3–5 years PQE in commercial contracts

Tools

CLM platforms

Job description

Why join us?

DWF is looking for a Contracts Delivery Manager to join our growing Central Legal Operations team. Based in Manchester, this is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of commercial contracting projects for a range of clients, combining your technical contracts expertise with project management, client relationship management and legal technology. Working closely with Legal Advisory teams and our offshore delivery centre in India, you'll play a key role in shaping innovative contract management solutions while helping clients drive greater efficiency and value from their contracting processes.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Operations Delivery Director, you'll lead the successful delivery of a variety of contracting projects, including commercial contract review and negotiation, development of contract templates and playbooks, and supporting the implementation of Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions. Acting as a trusted subject matter expert, you'll assess contractual risk, manage escalations and ensure the delivery of a high-quality service that exceeds client expectations.

You’ll work collaboratively with legal teams, clients and our India-based delivery centre, providing oversight, guidance and project management support to ensure projects are delivered on time and to the highest standard. Alongside managing client relationships and supporting business development activities, you’ll help drive continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging legal technology and process innovation to enhance service delivery and operational performance.

What will help you succeed in this role?

Essential

• Qualified solicitor with approximately 3-5 years' PQE specialising in commercial contracts.
• Considerable experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Proven project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing relationships with clients and other senior stakeholders.
• Ability to assess contractual risk and communicate legal concepts clearly to a range of audiences.
• Experience working with legal technology, CLM platforms or technology-enabled legal service delivery.

Desirable

• Experience working with offshore or international delivery teams.
• Experience developing contract templates, clause libraries or negotiation playbooks.
• Exposure to Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) implementation or optimisation projects.
• Previous experience within Legal Operations, Managed Legal Services or a consulting environment.
• Experience supporting bids, tenders or commercial pricing exercises.
• Understanding of process improvement and transformation initiatives within legal services.

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.

We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the requirements, please apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About Us

DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. We empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment, enabling everyone to achieve their full potential in line with their abilities and career aspirations.