Contracts Manager

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards and achieved several top rankings in Chambers UK 2016, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our Risk & Compliance team supports Weightmans’ risk and compliance issues, including: auditing; business continuity; compliance; data control; and money laundering.

To manage own workload and support the Head of Compliance, Head of IT and Operations Director in relation to the drafting, negotiation and management of commercial contracts. 

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive individual who can be responsible for contractual negotiations in relation to a range of commercial contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with external suppliers, undertaking detailed data analysis and reporting.  

You will be required to work closely with colleagues in the Risk and Compliance Department, Senior Management Team and a variety of different departments to ensure contracts are appropriate and fit for purpose.

You will be required to build constructive relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders which engender honest and open communication.

Main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Lead contract negotiations for a range of different supplier contracts which support the operational functions ensuring they are commercially & financially viable
• Lead the contract development, negotiation and closure including contract activity planning.
• Ensure that all contracts secure value for money, giving due consideration to all relevant factors including risk, quality and other factors
• Agree robust Key Performance Indicators (KPI) within each contract with support from the Head of Compliance, Head of IT and Operations Director or other employees as required
• Gather intelligence to analyse the market and develop options appraisals for purchase agreements
• Relationship management of suppliers to ensure that Weightmans has open & constructive dialogue relating to contracts
• Work alongside internal stakeholders to drive improvements in quality, efficiency and value for money.  
• Work as required with operational leads to ensure contracts that are negotiated and agreed are appropriate for service delivery
• Work to resolve any operational challenges through the contract termination or start date
• Manage in-year contract changes as Contract lead, including production of Contract Variations-ensuring effective communication of changes to all stakeholders.
• Ensure that all contracts comply with legal regulations and best practice.
• Establish and maintain a detailed contract spread sheet with detailed review of key risks
• Receive, interpret and present complex, sensitive information in an appropriate way to enable other staff to understand financial and activity risks
• Develop and present Management Information summarising status on issues, outcomes, and providing progress reports from time to time
• Act as a point of contact for supplier queries. 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
• Contract management experience, preferably within the legal sector
• Excellent drafting and research skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Flexible approach
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.