Contract and Client Onboarding Senior Manager

Who we are:

Access Partnership is the frontier consultancy getting innovation into market faster across technology, AI, Space and Health. With over 150 experts across six continents, we help clients in government, private sector and industry navigate complex regulatory, policy and communications challenges for the benefit of society.

Complex problems don't sit in silos and neither do we. Delivering frontier innovation into market takes a team of specialists that get you from concept to diffusion. Our architects of innovation - from strategists, economists, engineers, physicians to lawyers - work as one team to deliver technology into market for the benefit of society.

The Role

The Contract & Client Onboarding Senior Manager oversees the full contracting and onboarding process for new client engagements. This includes supporting opportunities from proposal to signature, coordinating approvals, managing onboarding requirements, and ensuring internal teams have what they need to launch projects smoothly.

The role sits between business development, delivery, finance, legal, compliance and project management, requiring strong commercial judgement and the ability to keep work moving without unnecessary process. It is not a legal role — the focus is commercial contract management, governance, onboarding and risk escalation.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Contracting & Commercial Review Manage end‑to‑end contracting, review commercial documents, flag risks, support negotiations, and ensure terms are viable and aligned with governance. Coordinate with senior stakeholders or external counsel when needed.

• Client Onboarding & Project Set‑Up Lead onboarding, ensuring checks, documentation, approvals and systems are in place. Handle procurement requirements, supplier forms, due diligence, POs and client portals. Ensure smooth handover into delivery with clear commercial terms.

• Governance & Risk Management Support new business governance, track contract and onboarding progress, manage working‑at‑risk escalations, and balance speed, risk and profitability. Identify recurring issues and improve templates, workflows and playbooks. Provide clear reporting on risks and bottlenecks.

• Stakeholder Management Act as a trusted point of contact across regions and seniority levels. Provide practical, solutions‑focused advice and support client‑facing discussions when needed. Build strong relationships with Finance, Legal, Compliance, PMO and Practices.

What you will bring:

Essential

• Strong experience in contract management, commercial operations, client onboarding, procurement support, legal operations, sales operations, new business operations, or a similar role.

• Experience working with commercial contracts, statements of work, engagement letters, NDAs, supplier forms, purchase orders, and client onboarding documentation.

• A strong commercial mindset, with the ability to understand how contract terms affect profitability, delivery, risk, and client relationships.

• Confidence identifying and escalating contractual, commercial, operational, and compliance risks.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple contract and onboarding processes at the same time.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to work with senior internal stakeholders and demanding client procurement teams.

• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.

• A practical, solutions-focused approach, with sound judgement and the confidence to recommend a way forward.

• High attention to detail, particularly when reviewing contract terms, approvals, and onboarding requirements.

• Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate for legal, financial, or senior commercial input.

Desirable

• Experience in consulting, professional services, technology, public policy, legal services, or government-facing environments.

• Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or with international clients.

• Familiarity with CRM, ERP, contract management, or e-signature systems such as NetSuite, Salesforce, HubSpot, DocuSign, or similar.

• Experience improving contracting, onboarding, or commercial governance processes.

• Exposure to public sector, multilateral, or large enterprise procurement processes.

What We Offer:

Our diverse international client base of technology giants and start-ups will provide the opportunity to work on multiple international projects on behalf of some of the industry’s leading companies. Our firm boasts a collaborative working environment, social events and a robust support system. We are committed to providing training and professional development for all colleagues.