Senior Contracts Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Yeovil; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to Recharge

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer

Private healthcare

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Leonardo UK seeks an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to lead contract management and proposals for Wildcat and Merlin helicopter platforms. You will oversee the full lifecycle of contracts, from new agreements to portfolios, across low- to high-value programs, working with cross-functional teams to align with policy and contractual provisions.

The role requires a strong defence contracting background and the ability to manage pre- and post-contract activities in a hybrid environment, with

Qualifications

• Competent in understanding and interpreting contracts with an enhanced working knowledge of all contract terms.
• Enhanced understanding of costing and pricing processes; able to formulate prices for proposals within delegated authority.
• Good verbal and written communication skills; able to construct and convey information concisely and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Draft, prepare and present internal approvals, contracts and other agreements.
• Support and lead customer proposals and contract amendments.
• Execute all commercial aspects of the contract.
• Monitor and report progress of key contract obligations, including deliverables and cash.
• Proactively resolve contract issues and provide contract advice to internal functions.
• Contribute to identifying and resolving contract risks and opportunities; support transformation initiatives.
• Support other members of the contract management team.

Skills

Contract management

Proposal management

MoD contracting

Pricing & costing

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Hybrid working

Education

Degree in business/engineering/English/psychology

Job description

Job Description: We are seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager to join our team, ideally bringing a strong background in defence commercial environments and familiarity with Ministry of Defence (MoD) contracting. Your impact In this role, you will take a lead on contract management and proposal activities for our Wildcat and Merlin helicopter platforms. Your expertise will ensure our business objectives are successfully met while remaining fully aligned with contractual provisions and company policies. You’ll manage the full lifecycle of contracts—ranging from newly established agreements to existing portfolios, and covering everything from low-value orders to high-value programs. Partnering closely with various business functions across the Helicopter division you will also build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with our customers to effectively facilitate both pre- and post-contract management

What you’ll do

• Draft, prepare and when required present internal approvals, contracts and other agreements
• Support and lead as required the provision of customer proposals and contract amendments
• Execute all commercial aspects of the contract
• Monitor and report the progress of key contract obligations, including contract deliverables and cash
• Proactively resolve contract issues and provide contract advice to internal functions
• Contribute to the identification and resolution of contract risks and opportunities and business improvement/transformation initiatives
• In addition to your direct reports, you will provide support to other members of the contract management team

What you’ll bring

• Competent in understanding and interpreting contracts with an enhanced working knowledge of all contract terms
• Have an enhanced understanding of the costing and pricing processes and mechanisms and be able to formulate prices for proposals within a delegated authority
• Have good verbal and written communication skills appropriate for role, with clear capability to construct and communicate information concisely and effectively.
• Be confident in presenting to peers, internally and externally.
• Be capable of leading and prioritising the work of you and your team in a hybrid working environment
• Be capable of identifying and implementing business improvement/transformation initiatives including cross functional activities
• Be educated to degree standard in an appropriate subject (business/engineering/English/psychology) with demonstrable commercial aptitude based on previous experience or a person with demonstrable specialist commercial aptitude based on previous experience in a business environment.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company‑funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work‑life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options.
• For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
• For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location: GB - Yeovil - Lysander Rd

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid

International, multicultural, innovative, technological: this is Leonardo.

The company’s passionate and talented team is strongly influenced by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) expertise, with a diverse range of experience that enables colleagues to share knowledge and know‑how across the generations. Leonardo always wants to expand its talent pool, here you can find the right opportunity for you!