Job Description Role Overview: A leading hi-tech manufacturing company is seeking a Commercial and Legal Manager to provide strategic guidance and support across all commercial matters up to board level. This role will work cross-functionally with Research & Development, Sales & Marketing, Procurement, and the Senior Management Team to safeguard the company’s commercial and legal interests.

Key Responsibilities Commercial Contracts & Agreements:

• Evaluate, draft, negotiate, and implement a range of commercial and legal documents, including:

• International and national multi-party agreements

• R&D collaboration and consortium agreements

• Standard terms & conditions, sales contracts, frame agreements

• Representative, distributor, consultancy, confidentiality agreements

• External funding agreements (EU & Innovate UK)

• Complex quotations, tenders, licence agreements, settlements, assignment agreements

• Ancillary commercial documents (performance guarantees, bank guarantees)

• Supply agreements and software licences

• Engage specialist legal advice as needed and manage external legal advisors.

Intellectual Property (IP) Management

• Oversee patents and trademarks (applications, renewals, maintenance)
• Manage IP assignments, trade secrets, and confidentiality issues
• Handle counterfeiting and infringement cases
• Engage and manage external IP advisors

Commercial Procedures & Policies

• Contribute to formulation and implementation of commercial procedures and company policies

Finance, Legal & Commercial Support

• Maintain contracts database
• Play a key role in major transactions (e.g., sale/leaseback, sale of businesses, due diligence)
• Support litigation and dispute resolution processes
• Manage product liability claims

Candidate Profile – Essential

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar commercial/legal role within hi-tech production or manufacturing
• Strong experience in contract management and negotiation
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to contractual detail
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Epicor)
• Degree-level business or legal qualification

Key Skills & Competencies

• Ability to analyse and assess contractual risks
• Skilled in drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial documents
• Ability to execute agreements and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
• Strong business judgement and trusted advisor capability across all levels
• Experience managing external advisors and confidential information

Desirable

• Experience in hi-tech manufacturing or production environments

MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND SITE IN LINCOLN, UK AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK