Senior Contracts Engineer

Orion Engineering Services Limited; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering services provider in Aberdeen is seeking a Senior Contracts Engineer to manage end-to-end contract lifecycle for operations and maintenance contracts. You will develop sourcing strategies and negotiate terms, ensuring value delivery. This role requires a Degree in Science or Engineering and a strong background in stakeholder management. The position is office-based 3 days a week with hybrid working options available.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in complex contract negotiations.
• Demonstrated track record of value delivery in contract lifecycle management.
• Ability to influence and manage stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle for operations and maintenance.
• Develop strategic sourcing strategies to deliver value.
• Negotiate terms and manage contract closures.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Supplier management

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in Science or Engineering

MBA or MSc in Supply Chain Management

Tools

SAP

MS Office

Job description

Senior Contracts Engineer

Our client is currently recruiting for the position of Senior Contracts Engineer based in Aberdeen. This is a long-term, ongoing core contract role with an operator and is looking after operations and maintenance contracts. Office based 3 days per week with 2 days working from home.

Purpose Statement

The Senior Contracts Engineer is an important role within the SCM team in ensuring that value is delivered to the business. The role works closely with the SCM team, senior internal stakeholders and external third parties and continuously seeks to improve value delivery. The role ensures that SCM is perceived as a positive, significant, value adding integral partner to the business.

Accountabilities

End-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management

Provides a deep knowledge and understanding of end-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management. Ensures value is maximised throughout the category and contracting process for designated categories and contracts. Ensures value is maximised from the contract negotiation through the whole life cycle of designated categories and contracts. Works closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs in detail, both for the immediate and/or future contracts /category requirements. Proactively develops a robust strategic sourcing strategy for use within designated categories and contracts, which delivers breakthrough results and year on year continuous improvement. Undertakes categories, contracts and project-related assessments to generate innovative opportunities and robust strategic sourcing plans. Reviews the specific categories and contracts set up and looks for ways to better manage it: to improve value delivery, eliminate waste, improve sourcing leverage and reduce administrative burden. Working as a Business Partner with key internal stakeholders, manage all contracting activities across the designated categories and contracts. This includes the creation and implementation of category plans and/or contract strategies that will ensure delivery in line with business objectives, regulatory requirements and the landing of all value negotiated.

External Market Expertise

Be seen by the business as the Supply Chain Management expert for their categories and contracts. Understand the category for designated contracts and provide leadership and insight for the business on all aspects of market dynamics, regulatory framework, suppliers and technical innovations. Report changes and updates in the market for designated category and contracts through proactive governance.

Contracting

Source and procure a range of goods and services across designated categories, ensuring optimum value for money within defined service and quality criteria. Identify opportunities for, lead and evaluate competitive tenders and proposals for the supply of goods and services for designated categories and contracts, negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and applying judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience. Create negotiation strategies and lead complex negotiations. Deliver a “fit for purpose” sourcing and selection approach which is flexible, and delivery focussed. Draft, negotiate and obtain agreement to commercial contracts, ensuring that operational and commercial risks to business are fully understood and minimised. Engage internal stakeholders such as the Line Managers, HSE, Legal, Insurance and Finance when negotiating a contract, to ensure that all related risks have been adequately reviewed and acceptable. Manage all contract close out activities at the end of a project or at contract expiration for designated contracts.

On-going improvements & delivery of Value Add

Identify and achieve defined improvement to the bottom line and cost saving targets by examining total acquisition costs and working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers for designated category / contracts. Forecast future expenditure patterns within key business segments, developing appropriate strategies to ensure budgeted value improvements are proactively identified and implemented for designated category / contracts. Challenge business plans where alternate opportunities exist to deliver higher value outcomes, ensuring all options have been duly evaluated.

Supplier Management

Within the Supplier and Performance Management framework, develop, build and maintain supplier engagement through appraisal and performance monitoring, value analysis, continuous improvement, supplier / supply base development, compliance and demand management for designated category / contracts. Coordinate multiple stakeholder interfaces and touch points across the business to ensure a consistent approach. Ensure compliance to contract terms, both legal and commercial (including value delivery). Lead the discussion on management of contractual risk and agree in conjunction with senior stakeholders’ steps to ensure remediation or reduction. Provide effective overview of supplier performance to designated contracts and support operational teams, if performance issues arise. Manage commercial interfaces between senior stakeholders from the business and suppliers. Drive communication between the key internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure a consistent approach for designated contracts. Resolve contractual and supplier disputes when they occur, protecting the interests of the business at all times and engaging Legal Business Partners where required. Gain appropriate remediation/recompense for the business if appropriate for designated contracts. Consult in the budgeting process in relation to supplier spend and engage on supplier cost saving initiatives, leading where appropriate for designated contracts. Challenge requirements and re‑negotiate designated contracts in life and at renewal to optimise value and drive cost savings. Build strategies for designated categories and contracts to manage end‑of‑contract term options appropriately for Company. Negotiate the terms and conditions of the Contract in line with Company’s Contract Deviation processes and get appropriate input from Legal, Compliance, Tax and Insurance experts.

Team and Tools (including People Management where applicable)

Be a constructive integral member of the wider SCM teams, actively supporting the development and delivery of the SCM strategic plans and objectives. Support junior members of the team to build and improve their supply chain skills as well as during complex negotiations. Participate in both O&M and SCM general team events, in order to foster relationships and breakdown silos.

Safety and Compliance

Identify any operational and regulatory risks, escalating as appropriate. Operate information systems to the required standard to maintain accurate and secure records. Understand and adhere to the company and department standards, policies and procedures. Adhere to the Competence and Training procedures, in particular, to promote a culture. Develop and maintain strong positive working relationships with senior internal stakeholders, ensuring their requirements are understood and being addressed and that communication channels with them are clear and effective.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Recognises bias, conscious or unconscious and actively works to eliminate such bias from their own approach to their work and colleagues. Actively seeks to encourage diversity in the team and manages an inclusive workplace, bringing alternative perspectives, opinions and thinking to all aspects of their work. Eliminates the use of everyday language that may leave others feeling excluded or discriminated against. Actively leads and encourages discussion, collaboration, and positive actions on inclusion amongst peers, which persuades and brings positive change when needed. Treats people equally and with consideration of protected characteristics.

Competencies and Qualifications

Competencies

• Clear understanding of end-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management.
• Detailed understanding of relevant/assigned category.
• Comprehensive knowledge of end-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management including market insight, business partnering, negotiation, on-going supplier management and governance relating to assigned portfolio.
• Experience of complex business significant categories of expenditure through multiple functions in order to maximise value to the business.
• Demonstrable track record of transformational value delivery through identification and implementation of innovative sourcing strategies, continuous improvement plans and demand management.
• Understanding of general and contract law and applications of LOGIC models (where applicable), in contract development, execution and dispute resolution.
• Demonstrable track record of leading complex contract negotiations.
• Understanding of the commercial aims and objectives of the company.
• Commercial Know-How: Managing for value, is the external market expert, and understands our Customers.
• Can own delivery elements of category wide improvement project.
• Competent in use of Company business tools – SAP, MS Packages, Ivalua.
• Ability to lead/champion Supplier Relationship and Performance Management.
• Ability to ensure business compliance with SCM Process.

Education

• 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.

Certification

• Membership of CIPS (or equivalent).

Work Experience

• Engagement up to a senior level demonstrating the ability to influence stakeholders and manage conflicting views. Effective networking and business partnering skills.
• Extensive experience supporting O&M categories.
• Self-directed, pro‑active, flexible, resilient, motivated and results oriented.
• Experience of working in a matrix organisation.
• Evidence of managing a category through the whole life cycle, ensuring the value created in the negotiation stage hits the bottom line.
• Confident and credibility with excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Advanced influencing, persuading and negotiating skills.
• Ability to present complex ideas/concepts and take a consultative approach with stakeholders and peers.
• Team player with an ability to manage complex relationships and matrix teams.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to identify and expeditiously exploit commercial opportunities.
• Advanced skills using MS Office including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as Contiki and SAP.
• Ability to meet deadlines/deliver on promises.

Contract position

If you feel that you are well suited to the above opportunity and would like to find out more then please contact Orion Group for more information or apply by forwarding your current CV quoting reference: TR/080533.

Our role in supporting diversity and inclusion

As an international workforce business, we are committed to sourcing personnel that reflects the diversity and values of our client base but also that of Orion Group. We welcome the wide range of experiences and viewpoints that potential workers bring to our business and our clients, including those based on nationality, gender, culture, educational and professional backgrounds, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, and age differences, job classification and religion. In our inclusive workplace, regardless of your employment status as staff or contract, everyone is assured the right of equitable, fair and respectful treatment.