Senior Contracts Manager

The Role

Reporting to the Manager Contracts and Partnerships, this permanent Wellington-based position offers the opportunity to play a pivotal role in the commercial management of a diverse portfolio of strategic contracts.

You will be the organisation's subject matter expert on contractual matters, providing advice, guidance and leadership across contract management, commercial risk, governance and relationship management. Working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners, you will help ensure contractual obligations are met while identifying opportunities to enhance performance, reduce risk and improve outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Include

Contract Management Leadership

• Assist with identifying and minimising commercial and contractual risks across the contract portfolio.
• Oversee the management, storage and accessibility of contractual documentation.
• Develop and implement contract management frameworks, tools and processes that support best practice.
• Provide stakeholders with clear visibility of contract requirements, performance measures, risks and opportunities.
• Support continuous improvement across contract management practices.

Contract Management Advice

• Act as the primary source of contractual expertise across the organisation.
• Provide advice and guidance on the interpretation and application of contractual obligations.
• Support stakeholders by outlining contractual positions and relevant provisions to enable informed decision-making.
• Act as an escalation point for complex contractual matters.
• Monitor and communicate key contractual obligations, milestones and deliverables with internal and external stakeholders.

You Will Also

• Partner with project teams to provide commercial and contractual input throughout project lifecycles.
• Draft, review and manage contract variations, supply agreements, sub-contracts, MOUs, renewals and other commercial documentation.
• Support stakeholder engagement and relationship management activities.
• Contribute to commercial strategy, governance and organisational capability development.

Role Requirements

We are seeking an experienced commercial professional who brings:

• Strong commercial acumen and experience providing contractual advice within a complex commercial environment.
• Experience managing high-value contracts and supplier relationships.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret contractual documentation and apply practical commercial judgement.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to influence across diverse teams.
• Confidence working within complex and sometimes ambiguous environments.
• An understanding of commercial law gained through legal, business, finance or commercial experience.
• Knowledge of risk management principles and contract governance.
• A commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a willingness to build knowledge of Māori perspectives and values.

Contact

All inquiries and applications to Archway Recruitment are treated in the strictest confidence. For a confidential discussion and to find out more about this opportunity please contact Olivia Strutton – e-mail ***email_hidden*** or phone 021 221 8167.