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 Great Yarmouth
The Norfolk town of Great Yarmouth is almost the UK’s most eastern place, pipped to the post by a few metres by Lowestoft 8 miles (13 km) to the south. Norwich, Norfolk’s county town, is 18 miles (30 km) to the west. Great Yarmouth has a well earned reputation for being a holiday resort, and it is one of the most popular in the UK. However its hinterland is actually rather industrialised, and is heavily involved with the gas and oil rig industries. Just offshore there is a large wind farm, with 30 turbines harvesting the North Sea breezes.
Like several towns on the North Sea, Great Yarmouth was unfortunate enough to be bombed in both world wars, by Zeppelins, the German navy and the Luftwaffe. Both times the town rebuild to carry on its tourism industries in peacetime. Great Yarmouth has managed to retain its tourism industry where many others have failed, perhaps because it is a diverse town as far as industry is concerned, and the locals use the same amenities as the tourists. Whatever the reason, its 50,000 population, made up of a mix of families and retirees, is reasonably affluent and the town is steadily growing.
The oil rig plant and the gas industry themselves can be great indicators that Contract Procurement Manager work could become available in Great Yarmouth, but the town’s population and its attractiveness to tourists also create an environment where the town has complex logistical needs to be met. With Norwich nearby, opportunities could arise just down the road, too.
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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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