Lead Contract Manager, Procurement

National Grid; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Procurement & Contracts Specialist to drive innovation and efficiency within their contract management organization. This role involves leading negotiations, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with contractual agreements. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in contract management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization. Join a dynamic team committed to delivering safe and reliable energy while fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in contract negotiations and management.
• Strong understanding of commercial, regulatory, and economic drivers.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations to maximize commercial advantages.
• Manage supplier performance and compliance with contracts.

Skills

Contract Management

Supplier Relationship Management

Commercial Negotiations

Cost Analysis

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Risk Management

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, or Business

MBA or MS (preferred)

Tools

SAP

Ariba

P2P Systems

Job description

About us

At National Grid we are committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We are one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We are proud of the contributions our work and our people make to the prosperity and wellbeing of our customers, communities and investors.

We are currently looking for highly motivated individuals who want to join a dynamic and fast paced organization going through a major transformation. If you are someone who’s looking to bring innovation, contribute ideas and play a part in renewing the contract management organization we want to hear from you!

About the Role

The Lead Procurement & Contracts Specialist defines and reinforces the value enhancing contractual partnering arrangements for National Grid. Leading on negotiations to maximize National Grid’s commercial advantage and ensuring suppliers perform to the contractual agreements. Supporting the development and implementation of appropriate commercial strategies, playing a central role in eliminating preventable value loss, delivering “in life” contract management savings and ensuring contract delivery for key stakeholders. Experience should include; supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, systems and analytics, market supplier development and a clear, working knowledge of current industry trends. This role will be supporting Energy Efficiency in IT and Indirects.

What You'll Do

• Provide guidance and support to the contract managers and associate contract managers
• Development, definition and reinforcement of value enhancing contractual partnering arrangements.
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to execute all contracts through conception to completion. Assessing contract risks and executing mitigation plans ensuring opportunities to drive value are leveraged and that risks are identified and mitigated.
• Provide the commercial lead on supplier contract, providing commercial leadership and expertise across a range of contracts as required to maximize the efficiency and value of contracts.
• Perform cost analysis reviews, identifying and monitoring cost saving opportunities across both the direct and indirect cost base driving internal and external cost reductions.
• Manage the policies and processes for compliance and audit; ensuring delivery by suppliers and internal stakeholders of the policies and procedures
• Proactively identify, build and maintain strong strategic partnerships with suppliers in order to understand and influence external opinion and maintain a strong reputation for National Grid.
• Partner with and coach suppliers to encourage new entrants to the market to ensure availability of equipment of an appropriate standard, cost basis and quality to meet demand.
• Implementation of a Supplier/Contractor Performance and Monitoring process, reporting on contract performance and escalating where needed.

What You'll Need

• Breadth and depth of contract management knowledge, including understanding key commercial, regulatory and economic drivers for driving greater value from contractual arrangements
• Ability to analyze KPIs and contract data, to manage contract performance and support commercial decision making and summarize key messages for a senior audience
• Strong track record of building external relationships to drive and deliver commercial value and to improve supplier performance
• Track record of building and enhancing business relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Knowledge and use of cost modelling tools, techniques and principles.
• Developing and managing assurance processes in a commercial environment, ensuring that risks are appropriately mitigated.
• Experience in both decision making in commercial and/or technical roles that have positively impacted on business performance.
• Experience in evaluating supplier capabilities to meet business requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Comfortable communicating with impact to a wide cross section of the business including senior management.
• Directing/Leading discussions/negotiations, steering agendas, challenging the status quo and effectively delivering difficult messages to parties inside and outside National Grid.
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A or B.S) required; in supply chain, finance or business preferred. MBA, MS preferred.
• Required 5+ years’ experience in contract negotiations and contract management. Strong working knowledge of SAP, Ariba & P2P systems preferred.
• Successful completion of professional negotiation coursework preferred
• An equivalent combination of education and extensive subject matter expertise along with contract management experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education requirements listed above.
• The candidate must have strong interpersonal skills, specifically in communications across a multi-national organization. Additionally, the candidate should be proficient in planning, collaboration, and analysis.
  

More Information

#LI-NK1 #LI-HYBRID #LI-CONTRACT MANAGEMENT #LI-COST MODELLING #LI-PROCUREMENT

Annual Salary

Brooklyn and surrounding area: $127,000-$149,000

Waltham and surrounding area: $118,000-$139,000

Upstate New York and surrounding area: $105,000-$124,000

Salary commensurate with experience and location.

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.