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 Bath
The Somerset city of Bath is a place with at least two remarkable historical periods that resonate today: the Roman and the Georgian. It was a popular Roman spa town, called Aquae Sulis, and its Roman baths not only survive to this day, they are still used, both by locals and by the many tourists who visit the city, usually as part of spa treatment. The second great era was the Georgian period, when the city regained its reputation as a spa city, and much of its iconic architecture was built, including the impressive Royal Crescent. A notable inhabitant of Bath was Jane Austen; there’s a museum dedicated to her in the city, although she notably never liked the place!
Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Bath did have quite an important manufacturing sector, its closeness to the major port of Bristol being an important factor. As the twentieth century drew on, however, the city became rather gentrified and started to focus more on tourism, and the manufacturing sector suffered. Today many of those who work in the city have to commute from outside because of property prices.
Some industries are successful in the city, however. Publishing in particular is doing well, with Future plc, owner of over 150 magazines, being based there, as well as some book publishers such as Parragon and the mail-order company House of Bath (now owned by JD Williams). Tourism remains its greatest single employer, with restaurants, guest houses, hotels, museums and the like enjoying almost year-round visits. Although the city proper has a population of around 90,000, the area as a whole is home to close to 170,000, making it a thriving place. It is not unusual for Contract Procurement Manager positions to appear in Bath, partly due to this large population and tourist requirements.
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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.
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