This is an exciting opportunity to work in a pioneering space company leading the Contracts department. You will be an effective and confident communicator from both a written and verbal perspective with excellent analytical skills and enjoy leading a small team.
SSTL is considered the pioneers of the small satellite market, with a heritage that spans over 40 years. SSTL prides itself in continual innovation and improvement of space technologies, products and services, and in delivering space missions for a broad array of applications. Since 1981, SSTL has had a unique position in the global space industry – delivering comprehensive multi‑year, hands‑on training programmes all around the world. As a result, space agencies have been formed in six space‑developing nations and flourishing space ecosystems have been established.
Key Tasks
- Organisation: day‑to‑day operations, organising, supporting and sharing in the team’s work and goals.
- Contractual: preparation, negotiation and management of all SSTL contractual commitments relating to projects and new business from acquisition of project to contract closure.
- Team Building: encouraging and motivating the team; team player mentality.
- Mentoring & Coaching: provide coaching, training, and mentoring where applicable.
- Leading by example.
- Providing a clear vision for the team.
Essential Requirements
- Demonstrated experience (minimum of 15 years) within the contractual field.
- Previous experience leading and working within a team with the ability to mentor and develop colleagues.
- In‑depth knowledge of contracts principles, drafting and interpretation.
- Experience of:
- Identifying contractual risk and proposing effective mitigation strategies.
- Managing high‑value and complex proposals and contracts in the UK and for export.
- Negotiating high‑value contracts and amendments.
- Drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contractual documents such as NDAs, Licence Agreements, Heads of Agreement, Teaming Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, etc.
- UK MOD contracting on a range of proposals and contracts, including single source contracts and implementing the Single Source Contracting Regulations on those contracts.
- This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for SSTL’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Desirable
- Educated to Degree level.
- Space industry experience, including European Space Agency (ESA), UKSA funding (CEOI, NSIP).
- Experience in US Department of Defense contracting.
Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence, persuade and negotiate with people at all levels (externally & internally) as well as to assist in reaching compromises when there are conflicting requirements.
- High degree of organisation, self‑motivation and initiative.
- Good team working skills, together with the ability to interface with others at all levels.
- Good presentation skills and customer facing skills.
- Results oriented with a strong drive to deliver.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
- Pro‑active and able to take initiative.
- Excellent planning and organising skills.
- Highly organised with clear communication skills.
- Ability to work simultaneously on a variety of projects.
- Able to work autonomously and using own initiative.
- Excellent interpersonal skills – both written and oral communications; ability to interface with customers and technical representatives.
- Decision making and creative problem solving skills.
- Ability to multi‑task and deliver both immediate and longer term tasks.
- Proven ability to deliver solutions under pressure and to tight timescales.
- Good knowledge of MS Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft Project.
- Able to demonstrate company mindsets and behaviours; accountable, drive and delivery, communicate effectively, self‑manage effectively, work as one team.
Location
The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford reporting to the Finance Director with 2 direct reports. Initially on‑site full time for the first 6 months. Subsequent hybrid working would be in accordance with SSTL’s Hybrid Working policy.
Benefits
- 32 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Pension Scheme with Life Assurance
- Private Medical & International Travel Insurance
- Annual Bonus Scheme
- Share Incentive Plan
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Shared Parental Pay for new parents
- High Street Discount Scheme
- Many more!
