Purpose of the Post

As Senior Contracts Manager, the successful candidate will play a central role across the organisation, supporting a portfolio of high‑profile public health initiatives that strengthen the UK’s health data infrastructure and enable cutting‑edge research nationally and internationally. They will work closely with teams across [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] and collaborate regularly with external partners – including universities, research organisations, funders, government bodies and industry – to deliver complex data infrastructure and research programmes. The role requires someone who is confident operating at pace, navigating diverse stakeholder environments, and taking a pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach to contractual challenges. The ideal candidate will share our values, demonstrate strong influencing and collaboration skills, and bring sound judgement to resolving complex issues. They will be comfortable working in a fast‑moving environment and committed to enabling impactful, trustworthy use of health data for public benefit.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage a large and varied contract portfolio, including grant awards, services agreements, research collaboration/consortium agreements, studentships, external secondments, data agreements, IP licences/assignments, heads of terms, and revenue sharing arrangements.
• Draft a variety of agreements using internal templates and bespoke drafting, and critically review external contract drafts, ensuring terms align with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s approved positions.
• Draft and lead negotiations on complex agreements such as high-value, multi-stage services, research and research data infrastructure programmes, multi-tiered funding structures, and data agreements with support from the Associate Director of Contracts, Procurement and Policy and external counsel.
• Work closely with senior internal stakeholders to advise on contractual models for development and provision of existing and new research, research infrastructure, and data focused services programmes.
• Advise [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] staff and stakeholders on contract terms, contracting approach, risk management, and contract processes.
• Ensure contracts and grants comply with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s policies, funder, legislative, and regulatory requirements, and sector best practice.
• Work closely with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s procurement team to draft appropriate agreements for procurement of high value and complex goods and services.
• Work closely with the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Information Governance team to draft and advise on data access agreements.
• Support the Associate Director of Contracts, Procurement and Policy in advising [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] senior leadership on contractual considerations of strategic programme development, including industry partnerships.
• Stay current regarding relevant legal and regulatory developments, particularly in data privacy, charity regulations, and contract case law.
• Ensure accurate records are kept regarding the contracting process and contract documentation, including maintaining the contracts register.

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain excellent relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to deliver [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s priorities in a timely and efficient manner.
• Communicate deadlines, contract terms, and commercial/funding positions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Interact with and assist external legal counsel at the direction of the Associate Director of Contracts, Procurement and Policy, and the Director of Legal, Trust and Ethics.
• Work closely with and mentor the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Contracts Officer. Line management responsibility may be within future scope of the role.

Process Development and Training

• Work with the Associate Director of Contracts, Procurement and Policy and Contracts Officer to maintain and improve [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s existing contracting processes, policies, and templates.
• Assist with the development of policies adjacent to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s contracting policies as needed (e.g. IP, finance, procurement, due diligence).
• Assist with establishing best practices for contracting and communicating those best practices to internal stakeholders, including developing and presenting training materials.

Risk Management

• Undertake due diligence and risk management activities in relation to third parties and projects in order to identify risk, advise on appropriate mitigations, and use judgement to escalate as necessary in accordance with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s policies and processes.
• Assist the Associate Director of Contracts, Procurement and Policy to advise and report to the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Senior Leadership and Board of Trustees on key contracting and risk management issues.

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of contractual agreements with a variety of counterparties including industry, academia, charity and public sector.
• Demonstrable significant experience in industry sponsored, life sciences and health data focused research agreements.
• Proven leadership experience, with a strong track record of providing strategic direction and shaping policy or process development.

Desirable:

• Experience working within the UK Higher Education sector or the NHS.
• Experience in mentoring and/or line management of contracts professionals.
• Some knowledge of UK public procurement regulations.

Note: As we are a UK-based organisation, applicants must be living in, and eligible to work in, the UK. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as early as possible. We politely request no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales.