Manager: Commercial Contracts (Supplier)

We’re Hiring: Manager: Commercial Contracts (Supplier)

Lesaka Merchant is looking for a Manager: Commercial Contracts (Supplier) to join our Merchant Operations Division. This role is ideal for a commercially minded professional who can manage supplier contracts from initiation to renewal, accelerate contracting processes, mitigate commercial and legal risks, and ensure supplier agreements support operational excellence, compliance, and customer experience.

Job purpose

To strategically manage the entire lifecycle of commercial supplier contracts across the Merchant Operations Division, ensuring cost effectiveness, legal compliance, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency whilst enabling fast, secure, scalable, and compliant commercial contracting processes that support business growth and customer experience.

Key Responsibility Areas

Commercial Contract Life Cycle Managed

• Provide a central point of coordination for supplier screening requests, vendor onboarding requirements, and contract administration.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and execute commercial contracts using approved legal templates and playbooks.
• Ensure contracts contain appropriate clauses relating to data privacy, information security, intellectual property, service delivery, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage contract revisions, version control, approvals, workflow routing, and execution through electronic signature solutions.
• Maintain a central digital repository for all supplier contracts, amendments, renewals, and supporting documentation.
• Proactively manage contract renewals, extensions, and terminations to avoid unnecessary risk and unfavourable automatic renewals.

Commercial Contract Risks Mitigated

• Implement standardised, technology-enabled contract governance frameworks.
• Conduct supplier due diligence assessments covering financial stability, compliance history, security risk, and reputation.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate indemnities, limitation of liability clauses, termination provisions, and intellectual property protections.
• Support supplier continuity planning, including contingency arrangements and alternative supplier strategies.
• Negotiate commercial terms that minimise financial exposure and maximise value for the business.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Managed

• Monitor contract performance against agreed obligations, deliverables, milestones, and SLAs.
• Ensure contracts comply with internal governance requirements and relevant external regulations.
• Identify contractual breaches, compliance risks, and performance concerns early and drive corrective actions.
• Support audit activities and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Review contracts to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, risk reduction, and improved commercial outcomes.

Supplier Monitoring and Value Realisation

• Monitor supplier performance against contractual commitments and service level agreements.
• Manage supplier contract registers and contractual governance processes.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Benchmark supplier costs, services, and contract performance against industry standards.
• Track commercial value realisation, cost savings, and return on investment achieved through supplier contracts.
• Drive accountability for supplier performance and contractual obligations.

Stakeholder Management and Alignment

• Partner closely with Procurement and Supplier Relationship Management teams to align contract management activities with supplier strategies.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across Technology, Operations, Risk, Legal, Procurement, and Supply Chain functions.
• Provide commercial contract guidance and support to business stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication on contractual obligations, supplier performance, and commercial risks.
• Participate in supplier performance reviews, contract negotiations, and service level management discussions.
• Ensure alignment between contractual commitments and operational requirements.

People Leadership, Capability and Performance

• Build and support a high-performance culture focused on accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership, coaching, guidance, and support to team members where required.
• Drive adoption of contract governance processes and best practices.
• Support succession planning, capability development, and talent retention initiatives.
• Champion Lesaka's culture, values, and performance standards.

Qualifications & Experience

Matric is Mandatory.

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Law, Commerce, or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience drafting, negotiating, reviewing, and administering commercial contracts within banking, fintech, technology, procurement, payments, or financial services environments.
• Experience managing contracts relating to SaaS, technology services, data privacy, supplier management, payment processing, or outsourced services.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience balancing risk management and operational delivery requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders, suppliers, and executive leadership.
• Experience managing contract lifecycles through contract management systems and digital platforms.
• Paralegal Certificate, Certified Commercial Contracts Manager, CIPS, or related commercial contracting qualifications will be advantageous.

Knowledge Requirements

Products

• Operational products and services
• Supplier and service delivery models
• Technology and fintech service agreements

Systems

• Procurement and sourcing platforms
• Contract lifecycle management systems
• ERP systems
• Supplier management systems

Processes

• Contract lifecycle management
• Commercial negotiations
• Supplier performance management
• Procurement and sourcing processes
• Contract governance and risk management
• ️ Compliance Requirements

• Occupational Health and Safety Act ( OHSA)
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ( BBBEE) Act
• Procurement and Supply Chain Regulations
• Data Privacy and Information Security Requirements
• Contract Governance Frameworks

Work Conditions

• Office-based role.
• National travel may be required.
• Regular engagement with suppliers, executives, legal teams, and business stakeholders.

Ready to drive commercial contracting excellence, mitigate risk, accelerate procurement velocity, and create value through best-in-class contract management?

Apply now or share this opportunity with a colleague who would be a great fit.

#Hiring #CommercialContracts #ContractManagement #LegalOperations #Procurement #SupplierManagement #VendorManagement #CommercialManager #RiskManagement #SharedServices #FintechJobs #Leadership #LesakaMerchant #SouthAfricaJobs #LI-DNI