Contracts Officer

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity set the standards in our industry, we are inspired by opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies and are committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet.

With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Based at our Luton manufacturing plant, the Contracts Officer will play a key role in supporting the Integrated Project Team (IPT) for Defence Contracts, specifically focused on fighter aircraft canopy programmes. This position sits within a Commercial team of three working alongside the Commercial Support Officer and reports directly to the Commercial Manager. As Contracts Officer you will oversee the account, provide contractual expertise and support, and be the first point of contact and escalation for purchase orders or contractual issues internally and from customers.

You will ensure the management and resolution of commercial issues on a day‑to‑day basis such as commercial change management, support for local level bids and proposals.

There is an opportunity to work from home up to two days per week, dependent on business needs following a training period. The role involves occasional UK travel (approximately once per quarter to visit customers based on the Isle of Wight).

• Interface and highlight contractual obligations and limits to the IPT and customers.
• Support new bidding activity, including compiling a business model and commercial proposal.
• Manage/maintain the company order book to reflect customers’ purchase order requirements.
• Ensure that commercial/contractual correspondence files are maintained.
• Maintain key performance metrics and contribute to internal reporting requirements.
• Support change negotiations with customers.
• Maintain overdue debt to a minimum and ensure customers pay in accordance with agreed payment terms.
• Support Project/Programme review structure, reports, data, etc.
• Review customer Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and conclude on demand changes, check against contractual conditions and update demand as part of MPS.
• Manage opportunities to improve the business case.
• Adhere to all Programme Management and Commercial standards and policies in accordance with the GKN Aerospace Programme Management framework and contribute to process development.

To help us make a difference you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Experience of working within the Aerospace or Defence industry
• Experience with in a Commercial or Procurement function
• Experience of working within multi‑disciplinary teams
• Ability to demonstrate business acumen and commercial awareness
• Experience of working with high attention to detail
• Numeracy reasoning skills and ability to work to profit
• Good written and verbal communication skills, effective at all levels
• Intermediate competency with MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)

• Worked with or for Original Equipment Manufacturers
• A BSc Degree or Diploma in a relevant subject such as Business, Finance or Procurement
• Contracting knowledge and/or accreditation such as IACCM, WCC, CIPS
• Experience of SAP software

We are looking for people who want to make a difference. The Contracts Officer will be a confident, self‑motivated and customer‑focused team player with excellent organisational, multi‑tasking, problem‑solving and communication skills, great attention to detail and an enjoyment of working to time constraints.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

The position may…