Senior Contracts Officer M/F

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

We are seeking a Senior Contracts Officer to join our growing Contracts team in Wolverhampton. You will provide expert advice and guidance across all aspects of the contract lifecycle - including bid support, development, negotiation, and delivery - while applying a solution-focused and risk-aware approach.

This is a critical business-partnering role that interfaces with functions across the organisation and requires excellent communication, commercial awareness, and the ability to draft, negotiate, and manage agreements effectively. Travel to our Banbury site will be required one day every other week.

What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

*Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements including NDAs, MOUs, collaboration agreements, and key contract clauses.
*Support proposal and bid reviews, including customer negotiations and risk assessments.
*Conduct contract risk and opportunity analyses to support decision-making.
*Partner with internal stakeholders (Legal, Programmes, Engineering, Business Development, Finance, etc.) to enable compliant and commercially sound business outcomes.
*Provide advice and guidance during contract disputes and support claims resolution.
*Act as the contracts focal point for integrated project teams (IPTs).
*Liaise with legal counsel (internal and external) as required to protect the organisation's risk position.
*Support compliance with internal policies and corporate contract approval processes.
*Track and monitor contract KPIs, approvals, and actions across relevant systems and trackers.
*Promote continuous improvement and functional performance within the Contracts team.
*Collaborate with the Supply Chain Contracts teams to align commercial terms where possible.

Essential skills:

*Experience in contract drafting and negotiation, ideally in a legal, commercial, or contracts-focused role.
*Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively in written and spoken English.
*Strong organisational skills and ability to self-manage to meet deadlines.

Desirable skills:

*Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Management, or equivalent, or working towards an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in Business.
*In the absence of formal qualifications, 5+ years of relevant contracts experience.
*Experience across the full product lifecycle, including bids, development, and manufacturing support.
*Proven ability to build strong working relationships internally and externally.
*Experience working with contract governance and approval processes.
*Familiarity with compliance, risk management, and claims resolution.
*High attention to detail and excellent time management.
*Ability to contribute to cross-functional teams and continuous improvement initiatives