Commercial Contract Manager in Burgess Hill

We believe it’s critical to deliver medical solutions right now as well as develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives as a world leader in Healthcare & Diagnostics solutions. With over 650 permanent employees in the UK and Ireland, we operate within vibrant and growing markets providing innovative and complex healthcare solutions in an ever-changing business environment.

The Commercial Contracts Team forms part of the Legal & Compliance Directorate. The team is responsible for drafting and negotiating customer (sales) contracts and subcontracts with our third-party suppliers. This role will report into the team leader of the function.

As part of the role, you will primarily provide sound commercial contract advice to all internal stakeholders within the business as well as negotiate contracts with external parties. You will assist in the development of sustainable commercial contracts that meet corporate/business area goals and metrics, whilst ensuring that you mitigate company risks and protect our reputation and financial interests.

What You Will Be Doing (Core Tasks)

• Involved with pre-tender engagement positioning; advising the Business Areas on the existing contract landscape and any foreseen risks with the customer’s proposed tender approach.
• Reviewing and managing multiple large tender opportunities simultaneously; reviewing the relevant tender documents and providing a comprehensive risk assessment of the opportunity to the business.
• Play an active part in the tender squad working closely with the Bids and the Commercial functions on our tender submissions. Advising and drafting tender clarifications to help seek clarity and position the business.
• Coordinating and drafting, on behalf of the business, a tender submission for any unacceptable risks.
• Reviewing, drafting, negotiating and executing commercial contracts with our customers highlighting areas of risk, proposing/agreeing risk mitigating strategies and ensuring contracts are commercially and legally robust (and in accordance with our tender submissions).
• Advising Business Areas on contractual rights and obligations within existing contracts;
• Drafting and negotiating variations to commercial contracts.
• Providing ad hoc advice and guidance on public procurement legislation and contractual queries from internal departments.
• Responsible for a wide range of additional contractual documents including novation agreements, parent company guarantees, confidentiality agreements, software licence and/or subscription agreements.

What You Need For This Position

It is expected that you will be educated to degree level or equivalent. In addition, you will preferably be a qualified commercial contracts lawyer or hold a World Commerce And Contracting Association (formerly IACCM) qualification or a CIPS qualification (Graduate Diploma). Significant experience in the field will also be considered in the absence of the above qualifications.

You will have an excellent level of contract law experience and a track record of providing contractual expertise relating to the provision of high value complex goods and services (typically in excess of £5m+). The company’s Business Areas will need to be able to rely on that expertise, along with your sound business acumen and professionalism. You will offer practical advice to all Business Areas and take accountability for the contract reviews and projects assigned to you. It is also preferable that you have knowledge of public procurement contract regulations (PCR2015 /PA23) and have a basic understanding of data protection matters.

This position will offer exposure to all of the Company’s operating businesses and therefore you must have the qualities to make a positive, professional impact in a highly complex cross-functional environment. You will be able to develop a strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and remain focused on critical goals and outcomes.

Other critical attributes to your success in the position include

• Effective team player;
• Strengths in planning and prioritising;
• Problem solving and decision making;
• Pragmatic approach, maintaining balance between efficiency while still protecting our commercial interests.
• Open minded and able to demonstrate resilience; Consistently generates new ideas, seeking new opportunities and tries new approaches.
• Effective internal/external stakeholder engagement skills; confident at interacting at all levels both within and outside of the organisation.
• Strong negotiation skills and an eye for detail;
• Strong contract drafting skills;
• Proven analytical and excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Self-starter who is action and impact oriented; possesses a strong sense of urgency and the ability to comfortably work independently (when required) or as part of a team, in an intensely deadline-oriented environment. Speed and accuracy are essential requirements for this position;
• Trustworthy; demonstrating experience working with confidential information and in confidential situations; High integrity and an unyielding commitment to legal and regulatory compliance;
• Comfortable with adopting new digital contracting solutions; proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite products.