Contracts Manager

Orange Recruitment are currently seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to join our clients Infrastructure Division. This role will be central to ensuring robust commercial and contractual oversight across a wide-ranging project portfolio. You will play a key role in both the pre- and post-award phases of framework agreements and call-off contracts, ensuring that all obligations are fulfilled in line with established procedures and performance expectations. Responsibilities Collaborate with Procurement and Legal teams to support the tendering and appointment process for contractors and consultants. Assist Programme Directors in contract strategy alignment and compliance with corporate procurement protocols. Ensure all pre-award documentation is contractually sound and appropriately tailored to project requirements. Oversee contract administration from award through to completion and final close-out. Review and approve subcontractor proposals and contract documentation to ensure alignment with contract terms. Monitor contractor and consultant performance against agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Contribute to resolving contractual disputes and support claims management processes as needed. Assist in reviewing and validating delay damages, where applicable. Ensure all contract activities are compliant with internal standards and the selected contract suite (e.g., NEC). Develop and lead programme-wide contract management strategies. Approve individual contract management approaches for specific work orders. Provide contractual leadership during negotiations and offer guidance to project managers and other stakeholders. Set performance targets and metrics within NEC incentive schedules and regularly evaluate contractor performance against them. Identify and address areas of non-compliance with contract management policies or terms. Qualifications 15+ years' experience in contract or cost management, with at least 7 years of specific NEC contract experience (10+ years for intermediate-level roles). Strong background in contractor / consultant performance evaluation and claims resolution. Demonstrated experience in setting up and maintaining KPI frameworks for service providers. Deep understanding of NEC contracts and their practical application. Proficiency in developing and deploying contract-specific management strategies. Experience with performance monitoring tools and methodologies. Key Competencies Proven leadership and team management capability. Excellent analytical thinking and attention to detail. Strong negotiation and influencing skills. High standard of written communication and reporting. Confident presenter with strong interpersonal communication. Technologically proficient; working knowledge of CEMAR and Unifier is advantageous. Skills : Construction Pricing Engineering