COMMERCIAL CONTRACT MANAGER
Position at GVW Group (Pty) Ltd supporting GVW Group, LLC and its affiliated companies
Who are we? GVW Group is a dynamic private investment and industrial holding company dedicated since 1993 to growing and starting businesses. We take an entrepreneurial approach to building value for our scalable early stage, high-growth, and mid-sized operating companies by providing strategic expertise and resources. Along the way, we have expanded globally into diverse industries ranging from manufacturing to technology, distribution, big data, engineering, and energy efficiency.
What will you do? Lead contract negotiations, assist with the management of the contract management system and oversee the entire contract lifecycle, assist the Legal team with reviewing and drafting of legal documentation, generate a plan for negotiation strategies with the business team leads and provide training.
Key Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities and main duties of the Commercial Contract Manager role include but are not limited to the following, and may change from time to time:
- Contract Negotiations:
- Lead, direct, and coach supplier, vendor, and partner negotiations alongside the business teams to achieve favourable terms and conditions that align with company’s objectives.
- Collaborate with the business teams to negotiate pricing and commercial aspects of supplier and vendor agreements and assist the Legal team in advocating for the company in negotiations.
- Identify and discuss potential company risks arising from negotiations with the Legal team.
- Manage a variety of contracts, from SAAS agreements to complex supply agreements, from deal initiation through to management approval.
- Identify and optimize the contract's commercial leverage and craft negotiation playbooks to create a process for improving each contract.
- Summarize negotiations and contract terms before business team leaders and senior management.
- Collaborate closely with the Legal team and internal stakeholders, including Finance and Operations, to ensure alignment and coordination throughout the contract lifecycle.
- Evaluate vendor performance and conduct periodic reviews to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, pricing updates and service level agreements.
- Acquire comprehensive knowledge of multiple businesses within the commercial vehicle industry, including their current or potential suppliers, previous and current agreements, performance monitoring and current status.
- Contract Drafting:
- Collaborate with the Legal team and various business teams to review, update, and maintain contract templates.
- Draft complex pricing provisions, such as raw material pricing adjustments, volume-based pricing reductions, and other commercial terms as negotiated by the parties, ensuring future adjustments comply with the agreement, in collaboration with the Legal team.
- Under the supervision of the Legal team, review and draft commercial agreement terms as requested with a focus on building the company’s strategic advantage.
- Consult on business strategies with each respective business team and craft provisions tailored to leverage business strengths.
- Collaborate with the Legal team to suggest improvements to contract templates, processes, operating procedures, and reporting.
- Ensure that contracts are reviewed, approved, and signed by authorized parties.
- Ensure that business teams are aware of and take steps to receive all benefits specified in the contract and confirm overall contract compliance.
- Reporting:
- Provide various reports to the Legal team and Business units.
- Tailor reports to meet the needs of internal stakeholders.
- General:
- Train various business teams on how they may benefit from stronger contracts and brainstorm for improvement.
- Support and reinforce commercial and contractual awareness amongst all employees.
- Assist with the management of the contract management system and oversee the entire contract lifecycle.
Qualifications And Experience
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience required.
- At least five years’ contract negotiation experience with a proven track record of successful commercial negotiations.
- A deep desire to understand each business team and develop a contract strategy that builds on such team’s strengths.
- Min 5-7 years’ work experience in contracts function.
- Highly beneficial if the candidate has:
- Cross-border and US contracting experience.
- Procurement experience, preferably for manufacturers.
- LLB Degree/Commercial Law/Contractual Law/B.Com from an accredited law school.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Superior negotiation and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain supplier relationships.
- Superior drafting and vetting of contract skills.
- Comfortable providing recommendations to the business team and negotiating contracts directly with third-party customers, suppliers, dealers, or enterprise vendors.
- Experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of complex agreements using strong negotiation skills, attention to detail and excellent business judgment.
- Ability to summarize a contract deal to company management and articulate complex issues clearly and concisely.
- Proficiency in contract management software and Microsoft 365 applications.
- Critical thinking skills and complex problem-solving skills.
- Willingness and ability to work full-time in the company’s office are required.
- Advanced written and oral communication in English.
- Ability to collaborate with both legal and non-legal colleagues in SA and the U.S.
- Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Highest integrity, strong work ethic, great attitude, and willingness to learn.
- Ability to work independently, meet timelines and willingness to be available during U.S. business hours.
- Time management/flexible hours.
- Take ownership and accountability.
- Professional references.
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