Commercial Contracts Manager in Slough

Purpose of role: Commercial lead for the UK business supporting the UK Managing Director and Engineering Teams with all commercial and risk management issues across the business. Additionally, provides support to the Head of Legal and other legal/commercial team members globally, handling various legal, contractual and risk-related issues.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays
• Company events
• 5% Employer pension contribution
• Enhanced paternity & maternity leave
• Life assurance
• Private medical insurance
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Referral programme
• Competitive salary
• Car allowance
• Occupational sick pay

Main responsibilities:

• Review contract terms, assess and highlight risks to the business.
• Ability to negotiate amendments including options to clients' contract terms that add value, mitigate risks and maximise returns.
• Draft accurate contract documentation and agreements to meet business needs.
• Identify and manage/mitigate commercial risks through appropriate mechanisms and proactive contracts management.
• For major projects, highlight to operational teams non-standard or unusual contractual obligations, laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Engage with and advise engineering teams on acceptable commercial arrangements.
• Propose amendments including options to clients' contract terms that mitigate risks and maximise returns.
• Review and manage sign off on client agreements such as non-disclosure agreements.
• Manage insurance claims to resolution including liaison with brokers, insurers, loss adjusters and appointed lawyers.
• Collaborate with the Business Development Team and Risk and Audit Team to align business growth initiatives with risk management strategies.
• Build and maintain positive and professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, addressing concerns or inquiries in a timely and courteous manner.
• Actively coach, train and develop commercial awareness throughout the company.
• Ensure that commercial practices and policies are implemented and followed across the business including delegation of authorities.
• Working collaboratively with global commercial/legal team.
• Protect business interests by ensuring that appropriate records of all commercial matters are retained including contract documents, minutes of meetings, project change and variations.
• Manage, control and resolve disputes both upstream with clients and downstream with supply chain.
• Provide support to business units located outside the UK occasionally based upon skills and knowledge.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Administer UK property transactions including lease negotiations, engage and liaise with external lawyers, surveyors and other professionals.
• Control and manage requirements for bonds or guarantees.
• Provide input to reviews and assist with the development of legal and commercial policies and guidelines to ensure that they are up to date and fit for purpose.

Experience, knowledge and qualifications required:

• Detailed contractual and commercial knowledge gained, preferably from a similar industry.
• Significant experience in contract negotiation of bespoke contracts including drafting, analysing and modifying terms & conditions to identify and mitigate commercial risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficient in the use of office software including Word, Excel and Project or equivalent.
• Able to travel and work in the UK.
• Degree level or equivalent level qualification with a commercial engineering or legal bias.

Personal characteristics required:

• Flexible, comfortable adapting and dealing with change and ambiguity.
• Collaborative working.
• Proactive approach with the ability to build effective relationships internally and externally.
• Well organised professional negotiator.
• Used to working under pressure and demanding deadlines.
• Able to prioritise multiple tasks and activities.