Contract Manager

Role Overview

Contract Manager at Ghobash Group / CNS, a technology company providing digital solutions and supporting enterprise and human development.

Company Overview

CNS is a technology company founded in 1987 with over 30 years of experience. The company employs over 320 employees, including more than 250 certified engineers. CNS offers expertise and best-in-class products supporting digital transformation across major industries. With offices in three countries, the company has extensive reach and regional knowledge of Middle East markets. CNS is shifting toward developing pioneering software in-house to add dimension to its innovative solutions portfolio.

Role Purpose

The Contract Manager oversees end-to-end contract management across the organization, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards. This role leads contract governance, supports commercial structuring and negotiations, and provides guidance to internal stakeholders on contractual matters. The Contract Manager mitigates risks, optimizes commercial outcomes, and ensures efficient contract lifecycle management across all business units.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management & Governance

• Handle the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts across B2B and B2G segments.
• Enforce contract governance frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, legal standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and follow procedural formalities set out in Federal Law No. (11) of 2023 on Procurement in the Federal Government, as well as relevant local procurement laws and regulations applicable within each Emirate.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management from pre-award to post-award and close-out.
• Act as the final contractual checkpoint prior to signature to ensure completeness, compliance, and risk alignment.
• Enforce "no contract, no delivery" and ensure no work is initiated without valid contractual coverage.
• Maintain contracts repository with up-to-date data, full tracking of timely delivery, terms, renewal, and other key information.
• Ensure optimal utilization of the Contracts Management Tool with digitalization and automation.

Pre-Award & Proposal Support

• Review RFPs, RFQs, and tender documents to identify contractual risks and compliance requirements.
• Support bid and proposal teams in structuring compliant and commercially sound submissions.
• Provide contractual input during pricing, commercial structuring, and risk assessments.
• Work closely with Sales, Pre-Sales, and PMO to ensure alignment between contractual terms, pricing, and delivery capability.

Post-Award & Contract Administration

• Manage contract execution, performance monitoring, and compliance across projects.
• Conduct contract reviews, identify deviations, and implement corrective actions.
• Manage contract amendments, variations, renewals, and close-out processes.
• Maintain accurate contract documentation and ensure proper record-keeping.
• Monitor contract utilization and flag expired or non-compliant contracts to prevent revenue leakage or uncontracted work.

Stakeholder & Advisory Role

• Act as a key advisor to internal stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, procurement, and business teams to ensure alignment.
• Conduct contract briefings and training sessions for project teams.
• Provide clear guidance on contractual positions in client and vendor discussions to support decision-making and dispute avoidance.

Subcontract & Vendor Management

• Lead subcontract drafting, negotiation, and management processes.
• Conduct risk assessments for subcontract agreements and define appropriate terms and conditions.
• Support vendor negotiations and ensure alignment with organizational standards.
• Ensure subcontract terms are aligned with main contract obligations to avoid back-to-back risk exposure.

Risk & Compliance Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual and regulatory risks.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and audit requirements.
• Support internal and external audits related to contracts and procurement.
• Support resolution of contractual disputes, claims, and escalations in coordination with Legal and business teams.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Implement and manage contract management systems and tools.
• Develop templates, standard operating procedures, and best practices for contract administration.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure contract data integrity and alignment across CRM, ERP, and procurement systems.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• 7–10 years of experience in contract management, procurement, or legal and commercial roles.
• Proven experience in handling complex contracts, negotiations, and compliance frameworks.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent understanding of contract law and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment capabilities.
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• High attention to detail and problem-solving ability.
• Proficiency in contract management systems and ERP tools, such as Oracle.
• Strong commercial acumen with understanding of pricing, margins, and risk allocation.

Additional Information

• Compliance with policies and procedures based on ISO standards adopted by CNS.