Compliance and Contracts Manager

Compliance and Contracts Manager

The Role

ADS Group is the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, representing more than 2,000 businesses of all sizes across the country. As we continue to grow our activities, partnerships and services, we are looking for a Compliance and Contracts Manager to join our Legal team and play a key role in supporting effective governance, compliance and commercial risk management across the Group.

Reporting to the Group Legal Director, this is a varied and highly visible role that sits at the heart of the organisation. You will support the development and embedding of our compliance framework, helping to ensure that regulatory, legal and contractual obligations are effectively managed across ADS and its subsidiary companies. The role will involve working closely with stakeholders at all levels of the business to provide assurance, maintain compliance oversight and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Alongside compliance responsibilities, you will provide hands-on support with the drafting, review and negotiation of commercial contracts, including supplier, customer, sponsorship and service agreements. You will help maintain contract governance processes, manage compliance and assurance activities, support GDPR and data protection compliance, contribute to internal and external audits, and assist with reporting to senior leadership teams and governance committees.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, thrives on building strong working relationships and wants to make a meaningful contribution within a respected organisation that supports some of the UK's most innovative sectors.

The Candidate

We are seeking an organised, commercially minded and proactive individual with experience working in compliance, governance, legal operations, contracts management or a related discipline.

You will have experience supporting or maintaining compliance frameworks and be comfortable working with policies, procedures, audits and assurance activities. You will also have experience drafting, reviewing or managing commercial contracts and will be confident balancing risk with practical business outcomes. A good understanding of UK GDPR and wider compliance obligations is important, together with the ability to communicate complex requirements in a clear and pragmatic way.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, detail focused and capable of managing multiple priorities. You will be comfortable working independently while collaborating effectively with stakeholders across the organisation. Strong communication skills, sound judgement and a solutions-focused approach will be essential in helping colleagues navigate compliance and contractual requirements.

Whether you have gained your experience within a commercial organisation, a professional services setting or a membership organisation, you will be motivated by the opportunity to help strengthen governance and compliance arrangements while supporting a diverse and commercially active organisation

The Contract

Contract Type; Permanent, full-time role

Location; Farnborough, Hampshire, with occasional travel to the London office