Commercial Manager - Contracts & Negotiation

Role Purpose

To lead the organizations commercial function by managing contract structuring, commercial evaluation, negotiations, and risk management to ensure all business transactions are financially sound, legally robust, and aligned with company objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Management

• Draft, review, and finalize commercial agreements, vendor contracts, service agreements, lease agreements, and MoUs.
• Ensure contracts are aligned with business objectives and risk-mitigated.
• Work closely with legal teams to structure commercially viable agreements.
• Manage contract lifecycle from negotiation to closure and renewal.

2. Commercial Evaluation & Analysis

• Perform commercial feasibility analysis of proposals, partnerships, and vendor engagements.
• Evaluate cost structures, pricing models, and financial implications.
• Conduct benchmarking and market comparison to ensure competitiveness.
• Provide recommendations to leadership before commercial commitments.

3. Negotiation Leadership

• Lead commercial negotiations with vendors, consultants, contractors, and partners.
• Drive cost optimization while maintaining quality and timelines.
• Develop negotiation strategies and position papers for management approval.
• Handle high-value and sensitive commercial discussions.

4. Risk Identification & Mitigation

• Identify contractual and financial risks in agreements.
• Ensure safeguards related to penalties, liabilities, deliverables, and timelines.
• Protect company interests through strong commercial clauses.

5. Policy & Process Development

• Establish standardized contract templates and commercial SOPs.
• Create approval matrix and commercial governance frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial controls and audit requirements.

6. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work with Finance, Legal, Procurement, and Business Teams to align commercial terms.
• Support leadership in strategic partnerships and commercial structuring.
• Act as a bridge between operational need and financial prudence.

7. Commercial MIS & Reporting

• Maintain repository of contracts and obligations.
• Track key commercial milestones, renewals, escalations, and exposures.
• Provide commercial insights and savings achieved through negotiations.

Key Competencies Required

• Strong expertise in contract drafting & interpretation
• Excellent commercial negotiation skills
• Ability to analyze pricing, cost models, and deal structures
• Strong understanding of risk clauses, indemnities, SLAs, and liability structures
• Business-oriented thinking with financial acumen
• High stakeholder management capability
• Strong analytical and documentation skills

Ideal Candidate Background

• Experience handling corporate contracts
• Exposure to large vendor agreements, service contracts, leasing, or procurement negotiations
• Has independently closed commercial deals and negotiations
• Mature professional capable of advising leadership on commercial risk.