Senior Commercial Contracts Manager
Sulzer · Leeds
Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.
About the role
At Sulzer, we don't just keep industry moving, we help some of the world's most critical sectors operate more efficiently, reliably and sustainably. With a heritage spanning almost 200 years, more than 13,000 employees worldwide and operations serving customers across over 160 countries, Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering and services. As we continue to build our Global Centre of Claims Excellence, we are looking for an ambitious commercial professional to drive change, influence outcomes and help create a best-in-class commercial function.The Opportunity
As Senior Commercial Contract Manager, you will work directly alongside senior leadership to drive commercial excellence across complex global projects, claims, contracts and customer relationships. You will act as a commercial co-pilot to the business, translating contractual positions into practical commercial outcomes that protect margin, unlock revenue opportunities and strengthen customer partnerships.
This role is an individual contributor position initially, but offers a significant opportunity for growth. As the function expands, the successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the team, influencing strategy and positioning themselves for future leadership opportunities.
For the right person, this is a rare chance to join early, make a visible impact and grow with the business.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead commercial management activities across complex customer contracts, projects and disputes
- Act as a trusted advisor to project teams, helping drive commercially sound decisions throughout project delivery
- Identify, negotiate and deliver change orders, variation claims and revenue opportunities
- Support the prevention and resolution of commercial disputes, claims and contractual challenges
- Translate technical and operational issues into robust commercial positions
- Partner with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain and Legal teams to align business objectives
- Influence stakeholders across regions and functions to maintain momentum and deliver outcomes
- Protect Sulzer's contractual position while maintaining strong customer relationships
- Support the ongoing development of Sulzer's Global Centre of Claims Excellence
- Contribute to continuous improvement, commercial governance and modern digital ways of working
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a commercially minded professional who can see beyond the contract and focus on the business outcome.
You will likely bring:
- Significant experience in commercial contract management, claims management, project commercial management or a similar discipline
- Experience within engineering, industrial, manufacturing, EPC, energy, oil & gas or related sectors
- Strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills
- A track record of managing commercial risk while identifying opportunities for value creation
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders across complex organisations
- Strong commercial judgement and business acumen
- The ability to understand technical issues and convert them into practical commercial strategies
- A proactive, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving global environment
Who Will Thrive Here?
This role would suit someone who is ready for more responsibility, influence and long-term career progression.
You'll enjoy this role if you:
- Like solving commercial challenges rather than simply administering contracts
- Enjoy working across functions, projects and international teams
- Are comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving change
- Take ownership and make things happen
- Can balance customer relationships with strong commercial discipline
- Want to help build something rather than inherit a fully established structure
- Aspire to move into more senior leadership positions in the future
This role is unlikely to suit someone seeking a highly structured environment with clearly defined boundaries and predictable day-to-day activity.
Location & Travel
- UK-based remote role with flexibility for hybrid working from any Sulzer location
- International travel as required, typically less than 15%
- Collaboration with colleagues, customers and stakeholders across the globe
#LI-REMOTE
What we offer you
- A fully remote home based role with occasional travel across regions.
- A competitive basic salary
- Annual personal bonus scheme based on company and personal performance
- Private Medical Insurance
- 33 days annual leave.
- Defined pension contributions.
- Access to Medicash helping you cover everyday health costs like dental optical and physiotherapy plus a range of wellbeing perks.
- Confidential support via Employee Assistance Programmes.
- Access to discounts on shopping entertainment lifestyle plus opportunity to apply for Costco membership.
- Discounted personal car leasing for you your family and friends.
- Long Service Awards celebrating your commitment.
- Continuous learning opportunities through Sulzer Learning Pathways.
- As a Silver Award holder of the MoD Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, we welcome and support veterans, reservists and Cadet Adult Volunteers with policies for training, camps and deployment, plus a growing internal military network.
Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment.
We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.