Senior Contracts Manager
Location: E1W (London)
Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, office-based with frequent site visits (no hybrid working)
Reports to: Head of Sales
Start Date: Any time from 5 January 2026
Holidays: 25 days + statutory
Pension: 4% employer contribution
Note: The business closes for the last week of December and first week of January.
Role Purpose
The Senior Contracts Manager oversees the full lifecycle of high-value projects, from tender preparation through delivery, ensuring commercial accuracy, compliance, and on-time installation. The role requires strong contract knowledge, excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to balance cost, quality and programme demands across multiple construction and fit-out environments. This position replaces the current Head of Contracts (retiring April 2026), offering significant continuity and forward planning.
Key Responsibilities
Tendering and Commercial Bids
- Prepare tenders and commercial submissions to support new business opportunities.
- Develop and present project proposals to clients and internal stakeholders.
- Produce detailed project plans, cost estimates, and delivery timescales.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Meet clients to capture scope, define requirements and agree deliverables.
- Act as the main point of contact for clients, site teams and project managers.
- Review, draft and negotiate terms of business contracts.
- Agree budgets, timescales and project milestones with clients.
Project Delivery Management
- Manage construction schedules, installation sequences and project budgets.
- Attend site meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues and maintain programme integrity.
- Identify and manage unexpected costs, risks and scope changes.
- Ensure compliance with technical, safety and installation standards.
- Coordinate with technical, financial, legal teams, subcontractors, and client representatives.
- Oversee invoicing and project financial closure.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Work with third-party suppliers and internal teams to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities.
- Support best practice across commercial processes, project documentation and contract governance.
- Provide technical and commercial insight to the Head of Sales.
Skills, Experience & Profile
Essential
- Proven experience as a Senior Contracts Manager or Contracts Manager within construction, interiors, fit-out, workspace furniture, or related engineering/project environments.
- Strong understanding of construction contracts, risk allocation, compliance and commercial management.
- Ability to cost projects accurately and manage budgets of varying scale.
- Strong negotiation, communication and reporting skills.
- Comfortable working between an office environment and multiple project sites.
- Excellent stakeholder management, with confidence engaging senior client representatives.
Desirable
- Experience leading multiple concurrent projects in complex installation settings.
- Familiarity with manufacturing-led or bespoke-build environments.