Hays
Contracts Manager
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Your new company
This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly innovative, engineering-led organisation, taking ownership of the Contracts function and leading a small, high-performing team. The successful candidate will be a confident and credible communicator, with strong commercial acumen and the ability to operate in a complex, project-driven environment. This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in delivering high-value, international programmes within a cutting-edge industry.
Your new role
As Contracts Manager, you will lead the Contracts team and take responsibility for the full lifecycle of contractual activity across projects and new business. Key responsibilities include:
- Managing the day-to-day operations of the Contracts team, ensuring delivery against departmental objectives
- Leading the preparation, negotiation, and execution of contracts from project acquisition through to closure
- Driving team development, including mentoring, coaching, and performance management
- Acting as a key commercial interface, working cross-functionally with internal stakeholders
- Providing a clear vision and leadership to the team, promoting a collaborative and high-performance culture
- Identifying and managing contractual risks, implementing mitigation strategies
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What you'll need to succeed
- Proven experience within a contracts/commercial environment
- Proven experience leading and developing teams
- Strong expertise in contract drafting, interpretation, and negotiation
- Demonstrated experience managing high-value, complex UK and international contracts
- Negotiation of contract amendments
- Experience drafting a broad range of agreements (e.g. NDAs, licencing, teaming agreements, MoUs)
- Experience within regulated environments, ideally including defence or government contracting
- Strong understanding of compliance and governance frameworks
- Exposure to international contracting environment
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Results-driven, proactive, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
- Comfortable working both autonomously and as part of a wider team
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What you'll get in return
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including:
- Generous annual leave
- Pension and life assurance
- Private medical insurance
- Bonus scheme
- Share incentive plan
- Enhanced family leave policies
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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