| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Procurement and Purchase |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Procurement |
| Direct reports | Contracts Executive |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in contract or commercial management |
Contracts Manager job description template
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Job title: Contracts Manager
Department: Procurement and Purchase
Reports to: Head of Procurement
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Contracts Manager owns the commercial contracts behind buying, from drafting and negotiation through renewal and closure. They turn agreed terms into clear agreements, protect the company on price, delivery, warranty, liability and exit, and keep a live repository so no contract lapses unnoticed. The role reports to the Head of Procurement or works closely with the legal team. A good contracts manager reduces commercial risk, keeps contracts current and enforceable, and gives buyers and users ready terms so purchasing is fast and safe.
Key responsibilities
- Draft, review and negotiate purchase and service contracts, and align commercial terms with the legal and finance teams.
- Build standard templates and clause libraries for common buys so contracts are consistent and quick to raise.
- Protect the company on price, delivery, warranty, indemnity, liability, confidentiality and exit terms in every agreement.
- Keep a live contract repository with values, terms and expiry dates, and flag renewals well before they lapse.
- Track obligations on both sides and follow up on service levels, penalties, guarantees and price revision clauses.
- Handle amendments, extensions and change orders with proper approvals and a clear record of what changed.
- Support sourcing events by preparing the contract terms and evaluating supplier deviations to the standard.
- Manage disputes and claims with suppliers, working with legal to protect the company position.
- Train buyers and users on what they can and cannot agree, and on using the standard terms.
- Report contract coverage, upcoming expiries and commercial risk to the head of procurement.
Requirements
- Graduate in law, commerce or engineering
- LLB or a contract management certification is an advantage
- Working knowledge of Indian contract and GST rules
- 6 to 10 years in contract or commercial management
KRAs and KPIs for a Contracts Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Contract coverage | Key suppliers and repeat buys covered by live contracts above the agreed level |
| Renewal control | No critical contract allowed to lapse unnoticed during the year |
| Risk terms | Standard protective clauses present in every new contract above the agreed value |
| Turnaround | Contract drafting and review completed within the agreed service time |
| Obligation tracking | Penalty, warranty and price clauses tracked and enforced when triggered |
| Dispute handling | Supplier claims and disputes closed within the target timeline |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Contract lifecycle software, MS Word and Excel, SAP MM, Document management systems, e-signature tools.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Procurement, Legal Manager, Commercial Manager
Interview questions for a Contracts Manager
- Which clauses do you never sign a purchase contract without, and why?
- How do you keep a large contract portfolio from letting renewals slip?
- A supplier wants to cap its liability very low. How do you negotiate this?
- How do you handle a change order that expands scope after the contract is signed?
- Walk me through how you would set up standard templates for a company with none.
- How do you enforce a penalty clause without wrecking the supplier relationship?
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What does a Contracts Manager do?
A Contracts Manager drafts, negotiates and manages the commercial contracts behind buying. They set protective terms on price, delivery, warranty and liability, keep a repository so nothing lapses, track obligations on both sides and handle amendments and disputes. Their job is lower commercial risk and enforceable, current agreements.
What is the difference between a Contracts Manager and a Procurement Manager?
A Procurement Manager runs the buying operation: sourcing, orders, suppliers and savings. A Contracts Manager focuses on the agreements themselves, drafting terms, protecting the company on risk, tracking renewals and obligations, and managing disputes. They work closely, with the contracts manager owning the commercial paperwork.
What qualifications does a Contracts Manager need?
Employers usually ask for a graduate degree in law, commerce or engineering, and value an LLB or a contract management certification. A sound grasp of Indian contract law, commercial terms and GST, plus strong drafting and negotiation, matter more than any single qualification.