Senior Contract Manager

Thales; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Friday early finish

Annual leave + bank holidays

Volunteer hours

Life cover

EAP & wellbeing app

Employee discounts

Job summary

Thales Group in Belfast offers a Senior Contracts Manager role with hybrid working (3 days on site). You will lead commercial and contractual strategy across bids and delivery, coordinating with bids, project and operational teams to maximise opportunities while mitigating risk.

The ideal candidate excels in complex or regulated environments, negotiates customer contracts, and demonstrates strong financial and commercial acumen. UK Eyes Only security clearance is noted as a consideration.

Qualifications

• Proven experience negotiating customer contracts and managing contracts through delivery.
• Strong background in contract and commercial management in complex or regulated environments.
• Ability to manage change, claims and disputes with legal and senior stakeholders.
• Exposure to international contracting and trade finance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead contractual input across bids and projects, supporting negotiation strategy and contract formation.
• Provide expert commercial advice on terms and conditions, risks, liabilities and opportunities.
• Manage change control, claims and disputes, working with legal and senior stakeholders to protect business interests.
• Oversee financial instruments such as Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and other trade finance arrangements.
• Drive compliance with contract governance, processes and delegation of authority requirements.

Skills

Contract and commercial management

Negotiation

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Contract governance

Job description

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site in Belfast

We are seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to provide expert commercial and contractual leadership across bids and contract delivery within IAS UK. This role is critical to enabling the business to win new work, negotiate robust contracts and manage contractual risk throughout the delivery lifecycle. You will work closely with bid, project and operational teams, acting as a trusted advisor on commercial strategy while ensuring obligations are met and opportunities maximised.

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• You can read about some of our other benefits here: UK benefits | Thales Group

Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS)

Our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.

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Main Responsibilities:

• Lead contractual input across bids and projects, supporting negotiation strategy and contract formation.
• Provide expert commercial advice on terms and conditions, risks, liabilities and opportunities.
• Manage change control, claims and disputes, working with legal and senior stakeholders to protect business interests.
• Oversee financial instruments such as Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and other trade finance arrangements.
• Drive compliance with contract governance, processes and delegation of authority requirements.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Strong background in contract and commercial management, ideally within complex or regulated environments.
• Proven experience negotiating customer contracts and managing contracts through delivery.
• Solid understanding of contractual risk, change management, claims and dispute resolution.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including exposure to international contracting and trade finance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to influence at all levels.

Security Clearance Requirement:

UK Eyes Only:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.