Senior Contracts Engineer

Our client is looking for a Senior Contracts Engineer for a contract position, located in Aberdeen (Hybrid Working)

ROLE:

The Senior Contracts Engineer is an important role within the SCM team in ensuring that value is delivered to the business.  The role works closely with the SCM team, senior internal stakeholders and external third parties and continuously seeks to improve value delivery. The role ensures that SCM is perceived as a positive, significant, value adding integral partner to the business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

End-to-end Contract Lifecycle Management

• Provides a deep knowledge and understanding of end to end Contract Lifecycle Management. Ensures value is maximised throughout the category and contracting process for designated contracts /category.
• Ensures value is maximised from the contract negotiation through the whole life cycle of designated contracts /category.
• Works closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs in detail, both for the immediate and/or future contracts /category requirements.
• Proactively develops a robust strategic sourcing strategy for use within designated category, which delivers breakthrough results and year on year continuous improvement.
• Undertakes category and project-related assessments to generate innovative opportunities and robust strategic sourcing plans.
• Reviews the specific category / contract set up and looks for ways to better manage it: in order to improve value delivery, eliminate waste, improve sourcing leverage and reduce administrative burden.
• Working as a Business Partner with key internal stakeholders, manage all procurement activity across the designated category. This includes the creation and implementation of category plans or contract strategies that will ensure delivery in line with business objectives, regulatory requirements and the landing of all value negotiated.

External Market Expertise

• Be seen by the business as the Supply Chain Management expert for their category.
• Understand the category for designated contracts and provide leadership and insight for the business on all aspects of market dynamics, regulatory framework, suppliers and technical innovations.
• Report changes and updates in the market for designated category /contracts through proactive governance.

Contracting

• Source and procure a range of goods and services across designated categories, ensuring optimum value for money within defined service and quality criteria. 
• Identify opportunities for, lead and evaluate competitive tenders and proposals for the supply of goods and services for designated categories / contracts, negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and applying judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience. 
• Create negotiation strategies and lead complex negotiations.
• Deliver a “fit for purpose” sourcing and selection approach which is flexible, and delivery focussed.
• Draft, negotiate and obtain agreement to commercial contracts, ensuring that operational and commercial risks to business are fully understood and minimised. 
• Engage internal stakeholders such as the Line Managers, HSE, Legal, Insurance and Finance when negotiating a contract, to ensure that all related risks have been adequately reviewed and acceptable.
• Manage all contract close out activities at the end of a project or at contract expiration for designated contracts.

On-going improvements & delivery of Value Add

• Identify and achieve defined improvement to the bottom line and cost saving targets by examining total acquisition costs and working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers for designated category / contracts.
• Forecast future expenditure patterns within key business segments, developing appropriate strategies to ensure budgeted value improvements are proactively identified and implemented for designated category / contracts.
• Challenge business plans where alternate opportunities exist to deliver higher value outcomes, ensuring all options have been duly evaluated.

Supplier Management

• Within the Category Management framework, develop, build and maintain supplier engagement through appraisal and performance monitoring, value analysis, continuous improvement, supplier / supply base development, compliance and demand management for designated category / contracts.
• Coordinate multiple stakeholder interfaces and touch points across the business to ensure a consistent approach.
• Ensure compliance to contract terms, both legal and commercial (including value delivery). 
• Lead the discussion on management of contractual risk and agree in conjunction with senior stakeholders’ steps to ensure remediation or reduction.
• Provide effective overview of supplier performance to designated contracts and support operational teams, if performance issues arise.
• Manage commercial interfaces between senior stakeholders from the business and suppliers.  Drive communication between the key internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure a consistent approach for designated contracts.
• Resolve contractual and supplier disputes when they occur, protecting the interests of the business at all times and engaging Legal Business Partners where required.  Gain appropriate remediation/recompense for the business if appropriate for designated contracts. 
• Consult in the budgeting process in relation to supplier spend and engage on supplier cost saving initiatives, leading where appropriate for designated contracts.
• Challenge requirements and re-negotiate designated contracts in life and at renewal to optimise value and drive cost savings. Build strategies for designated category /contracts to manage end-of-contract term options appropriately for company.
• Negotiate the terms and conditions of the Contract in line with Company Contract Deviation processes and get appropriate input from Legal, Compliance, Tax and Insurance experts

Team and Tools (including People Management where applicable)

• Be a constructive integral member of the wider SCM teams, actively supporting the development and delivery of the SCM strategic plans and objectives. 
• Support junior members of the team to build and improve their supply chain skills as well as during complex negotiations.
• Participate in both O&M and SCM general team events, in order to foster relationships and breakdown silos.

Safety and Compliance

• Identify any operational and regulatory risks, escalating as appropriate.
• Operate information systems to the required standard to maintain accurate and secure records. 
• Understand and adhere to the company and department standards, policies and procedures.
• Adhere to the Competence and Training procedures, in particular, to promote a culture.
• Develop and maintain strong positive working relationships with senior internal stakeholders, ensuring their requirements are understood and being addressed and that communication channels with them are clear and effective.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Degree educated (preferably in Science or Engineering) or appropriate relevant in work experience.
• MBA or MSc in Supply Chain Management will be an added advantage.

Certification:

• Membership of CIPS (or equivalent).

Competencies:

• Clear understanding of Category Management principles.  
• Detailed understanding of relevant/assigned category. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of end to end Category Management including market insight, business partnering, negotiation, on-going supplier management and governance relating to assigned portfolio.
• Experience of complex business significant categories of expenditure through multiple functions in order to maximise value to the business.
• Demonstrable track record of transformational value delivery through identification and implementation of innovative sourcing strategies, continuous improvement plans and demand management. 
• Understanding of general and contract law and applications of LOGIC models (where applicable), in contract development, execution and dispute resolution. 
• Demonstrable track record of leading complex contract negotiations. 
• Understanding of the commercial aims and objectives of the company.
• Commercial Know-How: Managing for value, is the external market expert, and understands our Customers.
• Can own delivery elements of category wide improvement project.
• Competent in use of Company business tools – SAP, MS Packages, Ivalua.
• Ability to lead/champion Supplier Relationship and Performance Management.
• Ability to ensure business compliance with SCM Process.

Work Experience:

• Engagement up to a senior level demonstrating the ability to influence stakeholders and manage conflicting views. Effective networking and business partnering skills.
• A minimum of seven years’ experience supporting O&M categories.
• Self-directed, pro-active, flexible, resilient, motivated and results oriented.
• Experience of working in a matrix organisation.
• Evidence of managing a category through the whole life cycle, ensuring the value created in the negotiation stage hits the bottom line.
• Confident and credibility with excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Advanced influencing, persuading and negotiating skills.
• Ability to present complex ideas/concepts and take a consultative approach with stakeholders and peers.
• Team player with an ability to manage complex relationships and matrix teams.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to identify and expeditiously exploit commercial opportunities.
• Advanced skills using MS Office including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as Contiki and SAP.
• Ability to meet deadlines/deliver on promises.