Contract Development Manager

Contract type: Full time Hours: 37.5 Salary: circa £55k depending on experience Location: Leeds WFH policy: Employees are required to attend the office 2 days/week Flexible working : Variety of flexible work patterns subject to line manager discretion e.g. Compressed 9-day fortnight. Reports to: Senior Contract Development Manager / Lead Commercial Manager Deadline Note: We reserve the right to close the advert before the advertised deadline if there are a high volume of applications. Role Summary: The Contract Development Manager is a specialist commercial role with ownership of defined contract development workstreams on assigned low-carbon energy schemes. The work spans the full arc of contract design: from developing LCCC's positions at Heads of Terms through full contract design, covering risk allocation, payment mechanics, contractual triggers, revenue adjustment mechanisms, termination provisions and change in law arrangements. The output is commercial architecture that is investable, bankable and operationally deliverable – and that works in practice, not just on paper. LCCC's position is distinctive: as the recognised counterparty for new low-carbon schemes, it advises government and works alongside its external legal and technical advisers on how contracts should be structured, from the inside. The Contract Development Manager is central to that advisory function, ensuring that what is drafted by government lawyers reflects what LCCC's commercial analysis supports and what the organisation can genuinely operationalise over the life of the scheme. Where schemes are live, the Contract Development Manager engages with executed contracts to enable their effective delivery, helping counterparties meet their contractual requirements and supporting low-carbon projects to succeed. The role operates with a significant degree of independence, owning workstreams and managing stakeholder relationships at working level. This is not a typical commercial management role. Performance is not measured against a commercial bottom line, but against LCCC's two guiding principles: maintaining investor confidence in low-carbon schemes, and minimising cost to consumers whilst enabling the delivery of low-carbon projects. Key Responsibilities Contract Development Own defined contract development workstreams on assigned schemes, taking commercial requirements from Heads of Terms through full contract design – covering risk allocation, payment mechanics, contractual triggers, termination provisions, change in law arrangements and revenue adjustment mechanisms – ensuring the resulting contractual architecture is technically robust, commercially sound and operationally deliverable. Develop and own LCCC's commercial positions at Heads of Terms, providing the analytical and commercial foundation from which government lawyers develop contractual provisions, and ensuring that what is drafted accurately reflects what the scheme requires and what LCCC can operationalise as counterparty. Design, develop and test payment structures, risk-sharing arrangements and other contractual mechanics for assigned schemes, including scenario modelling and stress-testing, to inform government decision-making at Phase Gate and other key milestones. Work alongside government departmental external legal and technical advisers at working level, providing commercially grounded challenge and input to scope validation, assumptions testing and the development of contractual provisions. Own commercial briefings, risk assessments and Phase Gate documentation for assigned workstreams, ensuring decisions and residual risks are clearly documented, and escalating material issues with clear analysis and recommended options. Manage the interface between contract development and contract implementation, ensuring operational requirements and lessons from executed contracts are reflected in scheme design, and that handovers to operational teams are planned, documented and low-risk. Maintain governance records, assumptions logs and risk register entries to a high standard, ensuring a clear, accurate and auditable trail of all commercial development activity. Operational Insight and Contractual Performance Enable the effective delivery of assigned executed contracts, managing commercial obligations and helping counterparties meet their contractual requirements so that low-carbon projects succeed. Manage day-to-day compliance monitoring, notice requirements and payment processes on assigned contracts, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and a clear audit trail. Assess contractual claims, Change in Law events, emerging disputes and other contractual triggers on assigned schemes, preparing clear and well-evidenced commercial positions and recommendations. Develop contractual correspondence and notices for assigned schemes, ensuring accuracy, appropriate tone and full alignment with agreed commercial positions. Capture and feed back operational insights systematically to contract development activity, ensuring the team remains grounded in the practical realities of managing the contracts it designs. Stakeholder Relationship Management Build and manage effective working relationships with government departments, counterparties and external advisers at working level, representing LCCC professionally and confidently in commercial discussions. Assess stakeholder positions and emerging issues with sound commercial judgement, maintaining clear briefings and escalation points that support senior engagement and decision-making. Develop a genuine understanding of counterparty perspectives and operational contexts, drawing on that understanding to inform both contract design and the management of executed contracts. Internal Capability and Knowledge Transfer Own Portfolio Control reporting for assigned workstreams, ensuring scheme status, risks and commercial decisions are accurately reflected in governance submissions and that the Head of Commercial Development has clear and timely visibility of activity across the portfolio. Contribute to SHoP briefing cycles and other team-wide reporting mechanisms, providing well-structured and accurate inputs on assigned schemes. Prepare papers and briefings for the Scheme Delivery Leadership Committee and other internal governance forums as required, presenting commercial positions, risks and recommendations clearly and to a high standard. Develop internal briefings, guidance and knowledge materials on new scheme mechanics, contractual obligations and handover requirements, building LCCC's organisational understanding of the contracts being developed. Provide direction and quality review to Assistant Contract Development Managers on analytical, documentation and commercial tasks, actively supporting their development as contract development practitioners. Deliver allocated workstreams to agreed timelines and quality standards, exercising sound commercial judgement and seeking senior input where strategic direction or assurance is required. Skills Knowledge and Expertise Essential Experience in a commercial, advisory or contract management role, ideally within the energy, infrastructure or public sector. A sound working understanding of commercial contracts, risk allocation and scheme or regulatory support structures, with demonstrated ability to engage with their technical and commercial detail. Understanding of payment mechanics, contractual structures and risk-sharing arrangements, with the ability to develop and test options through commercial analysis and modelling. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to develop scenario models and present findings clearly and in a well-structured way. Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce commercial documents, briefings and correspondence to a high standard. Commercially motivated, with the ability to manage competing workstream priorities, exercise sound judgement and escalate appropriately. Collaborative, with a commitment to quality, intellectual rigour and continuous improvement. A STEM degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant commercial, legal or financial discipline. Desirable Some exposure to new scheme development or low-carbon infrastructure projects. Knowledge of UK energy policy, the CfD scheme or related regulatory frameworks. Experience of working within a governance-led environment with formal reporting and approval requirements. Employee Benefits As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. Key benefits that may be available depending on the role include: Annual performance based bonus, up to 10% 25 days annual leave, plus eight bank holidays Up to 8% pension contribution Financial support and time off for study relevant to your role, plus a professional membership subscription Employee referral scheme (up to £1500), and colleague recognition scheme Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave and shared parental leave Free, confidential employee assistance, including financial management, family care, mental health, and on-call GP service Three paid volunteering days a year Season ticket loan and cycle to work schemes Family savings on days out and English Heritage, gym discounts, cash back and discounts at selected retailers Employee resource groups