Principal Contract Manager

AWE; England; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Contract Manager to lead the management of contracts for new state-of-the-art facilities. This senior role involves strategic oversight of supplier relationships and contract negotiation, ensuring compliance and alignment with safety standards. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in contract management within the infrastructure sector, preferably with NEC contracts. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits such as a 9-day working fortnight, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Professional career development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Experience in managing large complex infrastructure contracts.
• Post contract experience in infrastructure/construction sectors.
• Familiarity with NEC contract terms and arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the team to drive organisational outcomes.
• Manage complex relationships with stakeholders.
• Implement effective contract reporting and engagement strategies.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Budgetary control

Supplier relationship management

Education

Quantity Surveyor qualification or RICS

Tools

CEMAR

Job description

AWE is currently recruiting a Principal Contract Manager to focus on the management of new and negotiation of existing Contracts, as part of a key programme responsible for the development of 7 state of the art facilities.

Location: RG7 4PR, with free onsite parking. The plan is to relocate to Green Park (Reading) at the end of 2025.

Package: £63,000 to £90,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role

The Principal Contract Manager is a senior leadership position in the commercial function. You will lead and develop your team to drive organisational outcomes, promoting a customer-centric ethos and high standards. Foster a high-performance culture that enhances commercial value, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Ensure contracts align with safety and quality systems, and advocate AWE behaviours.

Manage complex relationships with stakeholders, including delivery, commercial and government partners. Ensure the Intelligent Client requirements are met through the contract. Manage supplier performance, implement supplier segmentation and SRM, monitor and mitigate supplier risks, and develop corrective action plans. Develop contracting and supplier strategies, ensure robust contract control systems, and contribute to building commercial capability.

Support cost management and compliance with legal requirements. Implement effective contract reporting and engagement strategies, identify and mitigate contract-related risks, and ensure a robust SRM delivery plan for critical suppliers.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking individuals with commercial post contract experience, from an infrastructure / construction background, with experience defining contract terms using NEC and establishing and standing up new arrangements on major programmes.

An NEC practitioner, accreditation, or significant NEC experience is preferred, and contract management tools such as CEMAR.

You will have experience in business governance, scoping deliverables, contract variation management and budgetary control. We do need you to have the following:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contractual arrangements,

• Managing large complex infrastructure contracts to ensure they deliver value and objectives,

• Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities,

• Working at a similar level within a comparable organisation or industry, such as MOD, Nuclear, Defence or Regulated.

We would like you to have some experience of:

• Post contract experience,

• Infrastructure / Construction Contracts,

• NEC & CCS contract experience desirable,

• Strong stakeholder management skills at all levels,

• Supplier relationship management skills,

• Managing, motivating, and developing people/teams in a matrix team,

• Creating integrated delivery teams and Intelligent Client functions,

• Working in a Commercial Function,

• Quantity Surveyor qualification or RICS.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 2 day onsite per week.

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