Senior Contracts Manager
Location: E1W (London)
Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, office-based with frequent site visits (no hybrid working)
Reports to: Head of Sales
Start Date: Any time from 5 January 2026
Holidays: 25 days + statutory
Pension: 4% employer contribution
Note: The business closes for the last week of December and first week of January.
Role Purpose
The Senior Contracts Manager oversees the full lifecycle of high-value projects, from tender preparation through delivery, ensuring commercial accuracy, compliance, and on-time installation. The role requires strong contract knowledge, excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to balance cost, quality and programme demands across multiple construction and fit-out environments. This position replaces the current Head of Contracts (retiring April 2026), offering significant continuity and forward planning.
Key Responsibilities
Tendering and Commercial Bids
* Prepare tenders and commercial submissions to support new business opportunities.
* Develop and present project proposals to clients and internal stakeholders.
* Produce detailed project plans, cost estimates, and delivery timescales.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
* Meet clients to capture scope, define requirements and agree deliverables.
* Act as the main point of contact for clients, site teams and project managers.
* Review, draft and negotiate terms of business contracts.
* Agree budgets, timescales and project milestones with clients.
Project Delivery Management
* Manage construction schedules, installation sequences and project budgets.
* Attend site meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues and maintain programme integrity.
* Identify and manage unexpected costs, risks and scope changes.
* Ensure compliance with technical, safety and installation standards.
* Coordinate with technical, financial, legal teams, subcontractors, and client representatives.
* Oversee invoicing and project financial closure.
Leadership & Collaboration
* Work with third-party suppliers and internal teams to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities.
* Support best practice across commercial processes, project documentation and contract governance.
* Provide technical and commercial insight to the Head of Sales.
Skills, Experience & Profile
Essential
* Proven experience as a Senior Contracts Manager or Contracts Manager within construction, interiors, fit-out, workspace furniture, or related engineering/project environments.
* Strong understanding of construction contracts, risk allocation, compliance and commercial management.
* Ability to cost projects accurately and manage budgets of varying scale.
* Strong negotiation, communication and reporting skills.
* Comfortable working between an office environment and multiple project sites.
* Excellent stakeholder management, with confidence engaging senior client representatives.
Desirable
* Experience leading multiple concurrent projects in complex installation settings.
* Familiarity with manufacturing-led or bespoke-build environments.
TPA Recruit is a specialist recruitment agency acting on behalf of our client to source and assess suitable candidates for this position. All applications will be reviewed and processed by our team, who will liaise directly with shortlisted individuals throughout the hiring process