Contracts Manager

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Smiths Detection in Hemel Hempstead is hiring a Contracts Manager for a full-time on-site role to steer commercial activity across winning proposals and contract execution for airports, military authorities and government bodies. You’ll own contract negotiations, drive revenue and margin, manage risk and change control, and work with Sales, Programme Delivery and Legal to secure value while maintaining strong customer relationships. Essentials: minimum 3 years’ commercial management experience, familiarity with MF/1 NEC3 and UK/Ireland procurement, and the ability to obtain UK security clearance. Desirable: experience contracting with Israel and government agencies, RICS chartered status, related degree, and export-control knowledge. Apply via the official Smiths Careers site, tailoring your CV to showcase negotiation wins and cross-functional collaboration; avoid third-party portals.

Company Description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

As the Contracts Manager you will be responsible for providing commercial advice to Sales, Programmes, and Service re the development and progression of winning proposals for new business, negotiating contracts and the in-service commercial management of a portfolio of contracts.  You may be appointed as lead for managing timely negotiations with customers and technology partners to maximize revenue and margin for Smiths Detection while achieving a high-level of customer satisfaction and maintaining positive customer relations.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate contracts with customers, principally airports, military authorities, ports and borders authorities, and other similar organisations, including Subject Matter Experts.
• Takes responsibility and accountability for commercial performance of contracts, driving revenue, margin and cash collection during execution.
• Takes the lead role in succinctly and effectively identifying, communicating, and managing risk through effective contract management, ensuring appropriate pricing and protection is in place, while balancing customer relations to ensure repeat business
• Ensure effective commercial change management control, including pricing and negotiation of terms and preparation of contract amendments.
• Understand the company’s contractual obligations and work closely with the sales, project delivery teams and support functions to ensure their understanding and compliance.
• Provide concise and clear advice and guidance to the projects delivery and service teams on all live contracts to maintain a strong commercial position.
• Draft and issue requests for proposal and/or contracts with sub-contractors.
• Assist with the timely preparation of winning proposals and tender responses, including the management and engagement with applicable internal and external stakeholders.

• Monitor and control commercial and contract documentation and correspondence, being the first point of contact for administration of contracts.
• Provide advice and guidance to management and the sales, project delivery, and service teams,  on all live contracts to maintain a strong commercial position.
• Where directed, mentor other members of the Regional Commercial team to increase the knowledge and skill base.
• Ensure compliance with Smiths Detection and Customer processes and policies, including opportunity approvals as dictated by internal governance and the issued delegation of authority.
• Monitor customer and sub-contractor activity to avoid and where necessary resolve commercial issues.
• Be the day-to-day point of interface on commercial and contractual matters, internally and externally.

Qualifications

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Essential

• Good working knowledge of commercial contracting conditions and pricing structures in the field of high-tech industrial equipment supply into complex buildings and infrastructure projects.
• Experience and competence of commercial management of partnerships, channels, and subcontracts (at least 3 years).
• Good understanding of commercial procurement and contracting processes across the various regions, principally in the UK and Ireland.
• Be familiar with various standard forms of contract (including IET MF/1 & NEC3) along with being able to work with client’s bespoke contracts.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to communicate effectively cross-functionally and at all levels of organisation.
• Proactive, dynamic individual with strong attention to detail.
• Capable of gaining UK Government SC security clearance.
• Able to identify areas of risk and mitigations (e.g., contract terms that if accepted would represent a risk to the Company and how they could be mitigated).
• The ability to work effectively under pressure, managing conflicting priorities and to meet challenging deadlines.
• Tenacious and driven with strong negotiating and influencing skills, but with the ability to be flexible and adapt to a given situation and stakeholders.

Highly Desirable

• Experience of contracting in Israel and willingness to travel to Israel, subject to Smiths Detection travel policies.
• Experience of contracting with military and other Governmental procurement agencies.
• Chartered member of RICS.
• A degree or equivalent qualification in a related subject matter e.g., business, law, engineering.
• Able to demonstrate previous experience of strong relationships within similar commercial contracting and procurement markets.
• Working knowledge of export control regulations.
• Strong communication skills combined with pragmatic commercial acumen

Impact and Scope:

• Key commercial interface for Smiths Detection contracting activities in UK, Ireland and Israel.
• Working in a matrix structure.
• Customer experience at key accounts based on ease of doing business.  Balanced view on risk.

Key Internal and External Relationships:

• Multiple clients at major airports, ports and borders.
• Technology partners.
• Other government procurement agencies (eg MoD and Home Office).
• Regional Management Team
• Programme Management, Sales, and Service Teams
• Legal and Finance teams

Additional Information

We offer…

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)