Contract Procurement Manager jobs
The whole of business is run on contracts, so it’s of vital importance that all of a company’s procurement contacts are drafted well, are effective and are enforceable to the satisfaction of both supplier and client. The contract manager will oversee the whole process of creating contracts, perhaps for deals struck by other departments within the company, and maintaining records of contracts for future reference.
While some contract manager roles might require drafting skills, in many cases contracts will take the form of a template. However this does not remove the need for precision, as mistakes in contracts can be costly, especially where multi-mullion pound procurement deals are being finalised. If the role doe indeed require contracts to be drafted from scratch, the role will need a fine attention to detail and a full understanding of the matter in hand. The contracts manager will need to appreciate that any items rejected in contract negotiations might have knock-on effects elsewhere in the contract, leading to extensive redrafting.
In many cases the contract managers will be present in negotiations, which is the best place to be to soak up the thrust of the progress. Other times they will be briefed by negotiators and must be able to interpret the brief and foresee any issues arising from the results.
Contract-making is usually hugely time-sensitive, as both parties usually want to see the latest draft of the contract as soon as possible after negotiations, so speed and accuracy must work hand in hand.
The skills required
A quasi-legal sensibility will be required for the successful contract manager, although the role does not usually require legal qualifications – business qualifications and experience are much more reliable determiners of a good candidate. Contracts from small supply deals to major business-critical ones will all be in the domain of the contract manager and his or her team. Whatever the size and nature of the contract, forensic, analytical skills will be highly valued in the contract manager.
Extensive knowledge of the materials or goods being dealt with and their respective industries will be an advantage, as all supplied goods come with their own limitations that must be covered in the contract.
A good command of English will be a most important quality, both in order to draft precise contracts and to interpret suppliers’ own contracts for negotiation. The same applies to all forms of communication, too. Contract managers will be dealing just as much with their own employers as with their suppliers, so they must be good listeners, readers, talkers and writers.
Contract Procurement Manager Jobs in Barnsley
Barnsley is a town of about 75,000 population in South Yorkshire. Roughly speaking it would be the centre point of a circle that passed though Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and Huddersfield, each of which is about 14 miles (25 km) away. To its south west is the beautiful Peak District National Park. Barnsley is served by the M1 running north-south, as well as the Sheffield to Leeds railway.
Barnsley was originally a market town and also traveller’s rest location for people moving to and from Leeds and Sheffield, but the discovery of coal and the Industrial Revolution turned it into a powerhouse of productivity. The Barnsley Canal was completed at the start of the nineteenth century, and although it was closed in the mid-20th century (partly due to subsidence from mining, ironically), there is a campaign to get it fixed, dredged and reopened for recreation. Much of the heavy industry has now gone, although one of its specialisms, glassmaking, remains active. A glassblower and a miner appear on Barnsley’s coat of arms.
The town has given us a number of famous people, particularly in sport. Cricket without Dickie Bird and Darren Gough would not be quite the same, and football was made a little more colourful by Mick McCarthey. Perhaps the most famous child of Barnsley, though, is chat show host to the stars of the 70s and 80s, Michael Parkinson.
While Barnsley’s industrial base is a shadow of its former self, it is still possible to find Contract Procurement Manager positions in the town. It has a sizeable population and serves a wide area, with no other major settlements closer than the cities of Sheffield and Leeds.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
At any given time, Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills.
We were founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for. In fact, employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates, so if you’re in procurement, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
So whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have. Please get in touch today!
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Contract Procurement Manager for your business or find you a job as a Contract Procurement Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
Contact us