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Contract Manager - Strategic Vendor Engagement (with De-merger Experience)

Hybrid (Birmingham HQ 1-2 days per week)

£(Apply online only) P/D (ASAP start)

Outside IR35

Our customer is seeking a Contract Manager to be responsible for overseeing the full contract lifecycle for a varied portfolio of strategic suppliers, including those providing recruitment, HR and reward services, insurance brokerage, procurement support, and employee benefits. The role focuses on delivering commercial value, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining productive supplier relationships-particularly during key organisational changes such as de-mergers.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Negotiation & Drafting:
Take ownership of negotiating and drafting agreements across HR, recruitment, insurance, and employee benefits categories.
Ensure all contracts are compliant with legal standards, commercially effective, and aligned with internal risk and policy frameworks.
Support During De-mergers & Transitions:
Offer expert contractual guidance throughout the planning and delivery of de-mergers or structural changes.
Revise existing supplier agreements to reflect changes in business ownership, service delivery, or organisational structure.
Contribute to the smooth separation of shared services while maintaining business continuity.
Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement:
Collaborate with HR, Legal, Procurement, and Finance teams to define service needs and ensure contract terms meet operational objectives.
Supplier Management & Engagement:
Act as the primary contact for contract-related queries and issues from third-party vendors.
Foster strong, value-driven relationships with key suppliers to support consistent service quality.
Contract Governance & Compliance:
Implement robust governance frameworks to oversee contract activity, including escalation routes, review processes, and audit documentation.
Ensure adherence to applicable procurement laws and regulations, such as PCR 2015.
Supplier Performance Management:
Develop and oversee performance metrics such as SLAs and KPIs to evaluate supplier delivery.
Lead regular performance assessments and champion continuous improvement initiatives.
Lifecycle & Change Management:
Manage the full lifecycle of contracts, from renewal and extension to amendment and termination.
Create and maintain structured, easy-to-follow workflows (e.g., swim-lane diagrams) to support change control processes.

Essential Skills & Experience:

Extensive hands-on experience in managing contracts within HR, recruitment, insurance, and employee benefits categories.
Strong negotiation skills with a keen understanding of commercial value and risk management.
Demonstrated ability to support major organisational changes, including de-mergers, restructures, or business separations.
Solid grasp of public sector procurement processes and relevant contract legislation.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities, with a collaborative approach.
Well-versed in contract governance and supplier performance monitoring frameworks.

Interested? Please submit your updated CV to Olivia Yafai at Crimson or immediate consideration.

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Crimson is acting as an employment agency regarding this vacancy