We are looking for an experienced Contracts Manager to join a small team within a growing, well-established, successful IT-managed service provider. As a Contracts Manager, you will be a valued member of the legal team, providing pragmatic legal support to members of the business in their day-to-day trading activities – e.g. the sales, pre-sales, operational, procurement and management teams. Collaborate with other team members to ensure an effective and efficient service is provided to the internal client.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide practical, commercial and concise advice, guidance and support on contract terms, legal issues and business risks.
• Review and amend terms in a variety of agreements including supplier and customer contracts, software licences, SaaS agreements, agency and service provision agreements.
• Negotiate with customers and suppliers in line with business requirements and company policies to achieve business objectives and the required allocation of risk.
• Manage and maintain contracts registers and contract management systems.
• Work closely with various departments to on-board new suppliers and customers for the relevant sector of the business.
• Research legal and regulatory issues which arise from time to time.
• Instructing external legal counsel in non-UK jurisdictions or for specific legal expertise and applying the advice to the situation.
• Keeping the business legal templates up to date and relevant.
• Make a positive contribution towards the operation of the team by suggesting any improvements you feel may contribute to the more effective or efficient operation of the team.
• Keeping your line manager up to date with your workload and any issues that you feel are relevant to the business and your role.
• Understand and follow the processes and procedures adopted by the team and the business from time to time and which are relevant to you.
• Your development as a contracts manager and businessperson.

KEY SKILLS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROLE:

• Legal training (for-example, law degree, LPC, GDL) to demonstrate solid understanding and application of fundamental legal principles, for example: English contract law and negligence

In house experience across commercial agreements, preferably in the IT industry

• Good knowledge of contract law and some knowledge of cross-border agreements and the additional complications they pose to the parties
• An ability to operate to deadlines and prioritise workload for the benefit of the business
• Good business judgement, understands commercial pressures and implications
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• High level of attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to communicate appropriately with key stakeholders without using jargon or overly legalistic language to facilitate good understanding of the issues by all parties and enable sound decision making
• Able to write clear, concise and understandable communications including legal agreements, associated correspondence and advice
• Computer literate with strong skills in Office 365 suite
• Good negotiation skills to help to seek positive business outcomes and maintain positive relations with customers and suppliers
• Adaptable and able to work flexibly in the context of a medium sized growing business
• A positive approach to their work and a team-player, working in a collaborative way to share knowledge and workload appropriately and to keep all stakeholders informed and up to date.

Remote with some adhoc visits to London office expected.