Contracts Manager

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, security and energy transition ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state‑of‑the‑art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state‑owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history.

In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well‑positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

The Contracts Manager is responsible for leading, shaping, and directing all phases of subcontracting activity at a senior level. This includes high‑value and complex procurement activity, senior‑level negotiation, contract drafting and execution, performance governance, risk management, dispute resolution, and contract closure.

This role acts as a subject‑matter expert within the organisation, ensuring all contract arrangements are commercially optimised, legally robust, and aligned with organisational strategy and customer commitments.

• Take responsibility for ensuring all contracts entered into with the supply chain are appropriate in structure and content, commercially advantageous, legally compliant, and aligned with organisational policy and strategic objectives.
• Provide senior‑level commercial insight and act as an escalation point for complex or high‑risk contractual issues affecting delivery.
• Lead the creation, development, and execution of complex commercial contracts across domestic and international markets, covering multiple pricing models and procurement methodologies.
• Direct the development of technical specifications, scope of works (SOW), and supplier statements of work, ensuring robust definition of requirements.
• Lead bidder conferences, high‑value tender evaluations, and cost/price analysis, providing commercial recommendations.
• Develop and own negotiation strategies for complex, high‑value procurements, leading negotiations at senior level to deliver best‑value outcomes.
• Lead oversight of supplier performance—including cost, schedule, quality, financials, and technical delivery—and ensure contract milestones are fully achieved.
• Ensure full compliance with all contractual obligations, including notices, payments, reporting, and risk management activities.
• Act as escalation for performance failures, contractual disputes, and claims, ensuring resolution pathways support organisational interests.
• Oversee contract termination or close‑out activities, ensuring learnings are captured and embedded.
• Lead development of collaborative and strategic supplier relationships, shaping long‑term supply‑chain capabilities.
• Support organisational strategy relating to responsible procurement, sustainability, diversity, and new business activity.
• Provide senior input into supplier identification, assessment, and evaluation processes to drive supply chain performance improvements.

• Extensive experience in supply chain, contract management, procurement, or commercial management, ideally within complex engineering, defence, marine, or construction environments.
• Demonstrable experience negotiating and managing high‑value, high‑complexity contracts involving non‑standard terms.
• Strong leadership capability, able to guide multidisciplinary teams and influence stakeholders at senior levels.
• Advanced understanding of contract structures, risk allocation, commercial models, and market conventions.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to brief senior stakeholders clearly and persuasively.
• Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional qualification (e.g., MCIPS, BA, MBA).

• Competitive salary
• Company pension
• Life Assurance
• L&D opportunities

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. To ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, we commit to a fair and unbiased recruitment process at every stage. This includes ensuring hiring managers are aware of legislation, providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, and actively seeking to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

Our goal is to create a recruitment environment where every candidate feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role online please contact us lls@harland‑ and one of the team will be in contact to help you.