Principal Commercial Officer (Contracts)

Overview

In this role you will manage contracts end-to-end within a defense-focused organization, supporting bids, negotiations, and delivery. You will protect company interests, manage risks, and provide commercial guidance to project teams. You will engage with customers and partners, and maintain up-to-date data in systems like SAP. The role combines contract expertise with stakeholder influence in a fast-paced environment, offering a meaningful impact on major high-value contracts.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working: 2-3 days on-site
• salary circa 50,000 + benefits

Responsibilities

• Manage contracts from inception to closure, including bids, negotiation, delivery, and closure
• Support bids by drafting/ reviewing contracts and protecting company interests
• Lead or participate in negotiations to finalise contract terms
• Oversee day-to-day contract administration including changes and issues
• Identify and manage risks and opportunities with cross-functional teams
• Build and maintain relationships with customers and partners
• Provide commercial advice to project teams
• Represent the commercial team in meetings and reviews
• Keep SAP and other systems/data up to date
• Promote best practice and mentor junior team members
• Work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Key requirements

• Strong experience in end-to-end contract management
• Confident negotiation skills with stakeholders
• Experience handling complex, high-value contracts
• Solid understanding of contract law, risk, and liabilities
• Ability to draft and negotiate contract terms and conditions
• Knowledge of pricing and costing
• Awareness of intellectual property protection
• Understanding of import/export rules and licenses
• Good process and change management capabilities
• Strong teamwork and influencing abilities
• Good commercial awareness of customers and suppliers
• Proficiency with IT systems such as SAP

• teamwork
• influencing abilities
• stakeholder management
• contract management
• negotiation
• pricing and costing

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