Head of Contracts

We are looking for an experienced Head of Contracts to lead on the negotiation, drafting and management of complex commercial agreements within a growing software business.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded contracts professional with a strong background in software and technology contracts to take ownership of key commercial agreements, support business growth and help manage contractual risk.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience negotiating complex software contracts, alongside strong drafting skills and the ability to balance commercial objectives with appropriate risk management. They will work closely with senior stakeholders across the business, providing practical commercial advice and ensuring contracts support the company's wider strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the negotiation, drafting and review of complex software and technology contracts, ensuring commercially favourable and appropriate contractual terms.
• Take ownership of the full contract lifecycle, from initial drafting and negotiation through to execution, renewals and ongoing contract management.
• Negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including software licensing, SaaS, cloud services, technology supply and customer agreements.
• Work closely with senior leadership, sales, procurement, finance and other internal stakeholders to support commercial negotiations and business objectives.
• Identify, assess and mitigate contractual and commercial risks, providing pragmatic recommendations that balance risk with revenue and growth opportunities.
• Draft, review and negotiate key contractual provisions, including liability, indemnities, warranties, service levels, data protection, intellectual property and termination rights.
• Develop and improve contract templates, processes, playbooks and approval procedures to support consistency and efficiency across the business.
• Provide commercial contracts guidance to internal stakeholders, helping them understand contractual obligations, risks and negotiation positions.
• Manage complex or high-value negotiations with customers, suppliers and strategic partners.

Key Requirements

• Significant experience in a commercial contracts role within a software, SaaS or technology business.
• Proven track record of negotiating complex software and technology agreements.
• Strong hands-on drafting experience, with the ability to produce and amend sophisticated commercial contracts.
• Extensive experience managing contractual negotiations from initial engagement through to successful conclusion.
• Strong understanding of key commercial contract terms, risk allocation and contractual liability.
• Ability to take a commercially pragmatic approach, balancing risk management with business priorities.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and influencing commercial decision-making.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and take ownership of complex contractual matters in a fully remote environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a commercially astute contracts professional who combines strong technical contract drafting skills with the confidence to lead complex negotiations independently. They will understand the commercial realities of a software business, be comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and have the judgement to identify when to challenge contractual terms and when to find a pragmatic route to agreement.

A qualified solicitor is not essential. Candidates with substantial in-house commercial contracts experience and a strong background in software negotiations are encouraged to apply.

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