Principal Contracts Engineer

Orion Group; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

Orion Group is seeking a Principal Contracts Engineer based in Aberdeen for a 12-month PAYE contract. The role is part-time, 2–3 days per week, with workload fluctuations.

You will lead category management, procurement activities, and contract negotiation, ensuring value, compliance and supplier performance across designated categories. The role requires a degree in science or engineering, plus experience in leading complex negotiations and using SAP, Ivalua and MS Office.

Qualifications

• Degree in science or engineering or equivalent experience.
• MBA or MSc in supply chain management is a plus.
• Membership of CIPS (or equivalent) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end contract lifecycle management from strategy to close-out.
• Conduct category and market assessments to evaluate sourcing options.
• Create category plans and implement sourcing strategies.
• Forecast spend and identify value improvement opportunities.
• Lead end-to-end procurement activities and competitive tendering.
• Draft, negotiate and finalise contracts, ensuring risk minimisation.
• Manage supplier performance and relationships to drive improvements.
• Identify and mitigate contractual, regulatory and commercial risks.

Skills

Category management

Contract negotiations

Supplier relationships

SAP

Ivalua

MS Office

Contract law

Negotiation leadership

Education

Science/Engineering degree

MBA or MSc in SCM

CIPS membership

Tools

SAP procurement

Ivalua

MS Office Tools

Job description

Principal Contract Engineer (Part-time)

Our operator client is currently recruiting for the position of Principal Contracts Engineer based in Aberdeen. This position will be based in Aberdeen on a 12-month PAYE contract, and the requirement is for support 2-3 days a week. However, the workload may increase/decrease on a weekly basis and would suit someone who is open to flexibility.

Key Role Deliverables

• Category Management Lead end-to-end contract lifecycle management, ensuring maximum value from strategy through to contract close-out.
• Conduct category and market assessments to evaluate sourcing options and trade- offs.
• Create and deliver category plans aligned with business objectives. Develop and implement sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
• Continuously review category performance to improve value, efficiency, and leverage.
• Forecast future spend and identify value improvement opportunities.
• Procurement & Tendering Lead end-to-end procurement activities across designated categories. Identify and execute competitive tendering opportunities.
• Source goods and services to achieve optimal value for money within quality and service requirements.
• Apply commercial judgement to balance cost, risk, and supply resilience.
• Contract Management & Negotiation Develop negotiation strategies and lead complex commercial negotiations. Draft, negotiate, and finalise contracts, ensuring risks are minimised.
• Manage contract lifecycle, including implementation and close-out. Ensure compliance with contractual, legal, and commercial terms.
• Supplier & Stakeholder Management Build and maintain strong supplier relationships and drive performance improvements.
• Monitor supplier performance, resolve issues, and manage disputes. Act as commercial interface between suppliers and the business.
• Challenge business requirements to drive better commercial outcomes. Ensure delivery of negotiated value and cost savings.
• Risk & Compliance Management Identify, assess, and manage contractual, regulatory and commercial risks. Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and internal governance requirements. Lead discussions on risk mitigation and remediation strategies.
• Maintain accurate systems, documentation, and audit readiness.
• Safety & Operational Compliance Ensure adherence to HSE standards, policies, and procedures.
• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. Identify and escalation operational and regulatory risks.

Competence & Qualifications

Technical Skills

• Understanding of category management principles & the end-to-end processes
• Understanding of contract law and LOGIC contracting models
• Experience in leading complex negotiations
• Skills in contract development, execution and dispute resolution
• Ability to lead supplier performance and relationship management
• Competent user of SAP (procurement, finance, GR/IR…) Ivalua & MS Office Tools

Qualifications

• Degree educated (preferably in Science or Engineering) or appropriate relevant in work experience
• MBA or MSc in Supply Chain Management will be an added advantage
• Membership of CIPS (or equivalent)

People are our business worldwide

Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.