Principal Contract Specialist

Pratt & Whitney; Harlow; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company is looking for a Principal Contracts Specialist in Glenrothes or Harlow with hybrid working options. This role involves providing comprehensive contractual and commercial support to bids and proposals. Ideal candidates will possess a relevant degree and experience in contractual governance. Essential qualities include strong commercial awareness, communication skills, and the ability to handle commercial risks effectively. Join a company that values innovation and offers a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in reviewing and drafting contractual documents.
• Strong commercial awareness and business principles.
• Ability to respond with tenacity and flexibility, working cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Provide full contractual and commercial support to bids and proposals.
• Identify commercial risks and implement effective risk mitigation.
• Lead the negotiation of contracts.

Skills

Strong commercial awareness

Excellent communication

Risk management

Problem solving

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-01-08

Country:

United Kingdom

Location:

GBR02: Glenrothes, Scotland, Queensway Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, KY7 5PY

Position Role Type:

Unspecified

Job Title: Principal Contracts Specialist

Function: Commercial & Subcontracts

Location: Glenrothes or Harlow (Hybrid working)

Clearance Required: SC Eligible

Raytheon UK

At Raytheon UK, we take immense pride in being a leader in defence and aerospace technology. As an employer, we are dedicated to fuelling innovation, nurturing talent, and fostering a culture of excellence.

Joining our team means being part of an organisation that shapes the future of national security whilst investing in your growth and personal development. We provide a collaborative environment, abundant opportunities for professional development, and a profound sense of purpose in what we do. Together, we are not just advancing technology; we're building a community committed to safeguarding a safer and more connected world.

About the role:

As a highly valued contracts and commercial specialist you are expected to be a business enabler, supporting both the winning and subsequent delivery of a profitable business. Making our company one that our customers see as easy to contract with and work with through the delivery of their programmes. You will provide contractual and commercial governance and advice to the bid and project teams as the subject matter expert in your contracting area, support multiple contracts and provide flexibility as the business requires.

Main Duties

• Provide full contractual and commercial support to development, approval and issuance of bids and proposals, whether in response to RFP/ITN etc or as part of the company strategy
• Identify any commercial risk, provide input to the overall risk plan and implement effective risk mitigation.
• Lead in the negotiation of contracts.
• Manage new and existing contracts effectively, including all contract change control and support to the other functions, including contract flow-downs
• Resolve all commercial issues promptly and effectively
• Manage the financial aspects of the contract, including forecasting and milestone plans (including timely claim submission)
• Be the commercial face of the organisation to the customer, as the day to day contact and subject matter expert
• Assure the successful completion, closedown and archive of contracts
• Be the champion of change and improvement

Candidate Requirements:

Essential:

• Relevant degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience in reviewing and drafting contractual documents
• Strong commercial awareness, business principles and governing law
• Experience of commercial risk management
• An ability to respond to tasks with tenacity and flexibility, whilst working cross functionally in a multi-disciplinary team
• Strong communicator and relationship builder with both internal and external customers
• An ability to remain calm under pressure and collaborate with others
• Positive, self-motivated and the ability to work independently.
• A willingness and ability to travel occasionally.

Desirable:

• Previous experience of contracting in the Defence sector
• Accreditation in Commercial and Supply Chain management
• Eligible to obtain security clearance (SC) beyond baseline personnel security standard (BPSS)
• Basic programme management skill set – Risk Management/Programme Gating/ Metrics
• Strong record of problem solving and dispute resolution
• Experience of working with international suppliers or customers
• Experience of Financial Management
• Awareness of Data Protection and other relevant commercial and contract legislation
• Familiarity with business process management tools (IPDS, SAP or similar) and the competitive bidding process.

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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