Legal Contracts Manager

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Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

We have been present in Saudi Arabia for 40 years and with over 600 employees to date, we are growing rapidly. Together we are delivering our signalling, control and train protection systems for the North-South Railway (NSR), the longest system of its kind in the world. Together we are key suppliers of In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems as well as air traffic management solutions in Saudi. We are making Saudi Arabia a safer place by securing the country's critical infrastructure and e-security solutions that secure the country's electronic payment systems. Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems for the Army, the Saudi Arabia National Guards and the Air Force.

JOB OBJECTIVE

Contract Manager within the Legal Contract Management Team for KSA & CA, covering KSA Projects.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contract Law & Contract Drafting: Understanding legal principles and procedural rules in contract law, drafting precise contract clauses that reflect the parties' intent, keeping records of negotiations, and analyzing complex contract structures (e.g., JVs, SPVs, consortia) to identify risks/opportunities.
• Pre-contract/Contract Administration & Claim Management: Establishing best practices for contract claims, changes, and record-keeping; implementing contract/claim management tools; managing changes, claims, and disputes to ensure fair resolutions; leading contract/claim process improvements.
• Compliance, Standards & Regulations: Ensuring adherence to ethics, trade compliance, and anti-corruption policies; conducting due diligence, audits, and compliance risk assessments; managing cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory adherence in contracts; collaborating with compliance specialists to mitigate legal risks.
• Intellectual Property & Product Strategy: Integrating IP considerations into business and product strategies; negotiating and drafting IP clauses; monitoring IP-related processes in bids and projects.
• Thales Operating Model, Policies & Processes: Applying internal policies and governance structures in contract management; managing contract-related processes across international projects; ensuring compliance with the Thales Contract Management Operating Model.
• Financial & Business Acumen: Aligning contract management with financial and business strategies; understanding pricing models, payment terms, and cash flow management; identifying cost implications and financial risks; applying IFRS principles and insurance-related contractual knowledge.
• Contractual Risks & Opportunities Management: Identifying and mitigating contractual risks while leveraging opportunities; developing and implementing risk management strategies; evaluating technical and non-technical risks within contract terms.
• Delivery & Performance Management: Managing delivery risks related to international trade (tax, customs, transfer of title); coordinating contract performance monitoring with project teams; understanding time scheduling and the critical path in project execution.
• Project, Bid & Capture Acumen: Managing internal contract-related projects using project management principles; defining contract management workflows, KPIs, and governance metrics; providing contractual insights throughout the bid lifecycle.
• Sourcing & Subcontracting Management: Managing supplier contracts and subcontracting agreements; advising teams on contract flow-downs and supplier risk management; aligning prime contract management with procurement strategies.
• Change Management & Continuous Improvement: Implementing change management strategies in contract processes; communicating regulatory changes effectively; adopting digital tools and best practices for contract improvement.
• Communication: Conveying contract-related matters clearly and assertively; escalating issues appropriately and proposing solutions; managing internal and external contract-related communication.
• Deals with Complexity & Stakeholder Engagement: Simplifying complex contract and legal concepts; managing ambiguity and making sound decisions; understanding stakeholder needs and aligning contract processes with business objectives and stakeholder expectations.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• +5 years of relevant experience in in-house legal, contracts and commercial management in an international environment with exposure to FIDIC contracts, Public Procurement contracts, Corporate Laws and Trade compliance.
• Practical experience in KSA legal systems and laws, civil and common law, and exposure to Middle East legal environment.

QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATION & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor or Master Degree in laws (Private Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Law) or in Business administration, engineering or similar.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Proficiency in English (written & verbal); strong understanding of FIDIC contracts, Public Procurement contracts, Corporate Laws, and Trade Compliance
• Knowledge of KSA legal systems, Civil Law, and Common Law
• Contract drafting, negotiation, and management; coherence between contractual documents (T&Cs, scope of work, specifications)
• Experience with contracts involving government and semi-government organizations
• Awareness of regulatory frameworks: export control, environmental, health & security policies
• Financial and risk assessment skills (cost estimates, price revisions, contingencies, taxes)
• Understanding of project management and contract lifecycle processes
• Ability to manage disputes, litigation, and legal resolutions

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries, our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad. Great journeys start here, apply now!