Contracts Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a pioneering space company leading the Contracts department.

You will be an effective and confident communicator from both a written and verbal perspective with excellent analytical skills and enjoy leading a small team.

About SSTL: Considered the pioneers of the small satellite market, and with a heritage that spans over 40 years, SSTL prides itself in continual innovation and improvement of space technologies, products and services, as well as in delivering space missions for a broad array of applications. Since 1981, SSTL has had a unique position in the global space industry - delivering comprehensive multi-year, hand-on training programmes all around the world. As a result of SSTL training programmes space agencies have been formed in 6 space-developing nations and flourishing space ecosystems have been established

Key Tasks

• Organisation: day-to-day operations, organising, supporting and sharing in the team's work and goals.
• Contractual: you're and the team's preparation, negotiation and management of all SSTL contractual commitments relating to projects and new business from acquisition of project to contract closure.
• Team Building: encouraging and motivating the team; team player mentality.
• Mentoring & Coaching: provide coaching, training, and mentoring where applicable.
• Leading by example.
• Providing a clear vision for the team.

Previous Experience Your Skills and Experiences Essential

• Demonstrated experience (minimum of 15 years) within the contractual field.
• Previous experience leading and working within a team with the ability to mentor and develop colleagues.
• In depth knowledge of contracts principles, drafting and interpretation.
• Experience of
  • identifying contractual risk and proposing effective mitigation strategies.
  • managing high value and complex proposals and contracts in the UK and for export.
  • negotiating high value contracts and amendments.
  • drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contractual documents such as NDAs, Licence Agreements, Heads of Agreement, Teaming Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding etc.
  • UK MOD contracting on a range of proposals and contracts, including single source contracts and implementing the Single Source Contracting Regulations on those contracts
• This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for SSTL's success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Desirable

• Educated to Degree level.
• Space industry experience, including European Space Agency (ESA), UKSA funding (CEOI, NSIP).
• Experience in US Department of Defense contracting.

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, able to influence, persuade and negotiate with people at all levels (externally & internally) as well as to assist in reaching compromises when there are conflicting requirements
• High degree of organisation, self-motivation and initiative
• Good team working skills, together with the ability to interface with others at all levels
• Good presentation skills and customer facing skills
• Results orientated with a strong drive to deliver
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Pro-active and able to take initiative
• Excellent planning and organising skills
• Highly organised with clear communication skills
• Ability to work simultaneously on a variety of projects
• Able to work autonomously and using own initiative
• Excellent inter-personal skills - both written and oral communications; ability to interface with customers and technical representatives
• Decision making and creative problem solving skills
• Ability to multi-task and deliver both immediate and longer term tasks
• Proven ability to deliver solutions under pressure and to tight timescales
• Good knowledge of MS Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft Project
• Able to demonstrate company mindsets and behaviours; Be accountable, Drive & delivery, Communicate effectively, Self-manage effectively, Work as one team

Location

The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford reporting to the Finance Director with 2 direct reports. Initially on-site full time for the first 6 months. Subsequent Hybrid working would be in accordance with SSTL's Hybrid Working policy.

Benefits

• 32 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Pension Scheme with Life Assurance
• Private Medical & International Travel Insurance
• Annual Bonus Scheme
• Share Incentive Plan
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Shared Parental Pay for new parents
• High Street Discount Scheme
• and many more!