At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead negotiations and optimise contracts to deliver cashable savings.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on impactful savings delivery.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience in commercial negotiation and contract management.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by driving financial outcomes and improving supplier relationships.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking two Interim Contract Managers to support a time‑limited, high‑impact savings delivery programme for an initial period of up to six months. The role is focused on delivering tangible, cashable savings across a defined set of spend areas through commercial challenge, supplier negotiation, and contract optimisation. Working with pre‑identified analytical insights and opportunities, the successful candidates will translate data into actionable commercial outcomes, engaging suppliers and internal stakeholders to secure improved value, reduced costs, and enhanced contractual terms. This is a delivery‑focused role with a strong emphasis on pace, accountability, and measurable financial impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead commercial engagement and negotiation activity with suppliers to deliver cashable savings opportunities across existing contracts and spend areas.
- Review and challenge contract pricing structures, service scopes, usage levels, and commercial terms to identify cost optimisation opportunities.
- Translate data‑led insights into practical savings actions, ensuring opportunities are developed into deliverable and trackable outcomes.
- Work closely with service leads and internal stakeholders to validate assumptions, secure agreement, and implement commercial changes.
- Drive progress and maintain momentum across a defined savings workstream, ensuring delivery against agreed targets and timelines.
- Manage supplier relationships effectively while maintaining a firm commercial focus during negotiations.
- Ensure all activity is conducted in line with procurement regulations, governance frameworks, and audit requirements.
- Maintain accurate documentation and a clear audit trail of decisions, negotiations, and realised savings.
- Report progress, risks, and financial outcomes to senior stakeholders.
Required Experience & Skills
- Proven experience as a Contract Manager, Commercial Manager, or Procurement Specialist within complex organisational environments.
- Strong track record of delivering measurable cashable savings through commercial negotiation and contract optimisation.
- Demonstrable experience reviewing and challenging supplier contracts, pricing models, and service scopes.
- Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with senior internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to quickly assess value, cost drivers, and contractual risk.
- Experience working with data‑led insights, spend analysis, and translating information into actionable outcomes.
- Ability to work independently in fast‑paced, delivery-focused environments with minimal supervision.
- Public sector experience highly desirable, including familiarity with procurement governance and regulatory frameworks (e.g. PCR 2015 / Procurement Act).
Personal Attributes
- Results-driven, with a strong focus on delivering measurable financial outcomes.
- Confident in challenging commercial positions and managing difficult supplier negotiations.
- Proactive and solution-oriented, with the ability to identify opportunities beyond initial analysis.
- Strong communicator, able to translate commercial and technical information into clear, accessible language.
- Highly organised, resilient, and capable of managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Success Measures
- Delivery of quantifiable, cashable savings against identified opportunities.
- Successful renegotiation or optimisation of supplier contracts and commercial terms.
- Evidence of effective stakeholder engagement and agreement to commercial changes.
- Clear governance, documentation, and audit trail of all decisions and outcomes.
- Positive contribution to programme pace, delivery confidence, and financial targets.
Contract Manager – AR employer: Carrington Blake Recruitment
As an Interim Contract Manager within our dynamic team, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment that prioritises accountability and measurable financial impact. We offer a collaborative work culture that encourages professional growth through hands-on experience in commercial negotiations and supplier management, all while contributing to a high-impact savings delivery programme. Our commitment to employee development and a results-driven approach makes us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding opportunities.
Contact Details:
Carrington Blake Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Manager – AR
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Manager – AR
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Carrington Blake Recruitment that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Carrington Blake Recruitment can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Carrington Blake Recruitment that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Carrington Blake Recruitment know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington Blake Recruitment
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
