Associate Manager – Tenders & Contracts

The Associate Manager of Tenders & Contracts leads the tendering and contracting strategy across the Implants & Consumables divisions. Managing a team of approximately ten specialists, this role is responsible for the full tender and contract lifecycle (from opportunity identification to submission, award and execution).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and engage a team of Tender & Contract Specialists, ensuring high performance and accountability

• Own the end-to-end tender process, from pre-tender analysis to compliant submission and award

• Embed strategic thinking into tenders through win/loss reviews, competitive positioning and scenario analysis

• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, Italian public procurement regulations and EU tender frameworks

• Manage tender pipelines, forecasts, KPIs and performance dashboards to support commercial planning

• Oversee the full contract lifecycle, ensuring governance, risk management and audit readiness

• Drive continuous improvement, process simplification and digitalization initiatives within the function

• Communicate clearly and effectively with cross-functional stakeholders and remote senior management

Requirements

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree Business, Economics, Public Administration or a related field

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in tender, contract or process-driven commercial roles, ideally within regulated environments

• Proven people management or team leadership experience with solution-oriented and action-driven approach

• Strong understanding of Italian public procurement processes and regulatory constraints and analytical skills for market, competitor and tender performance analysis

• Fluent Italian and English

• Strong change-management and process-oriented mindset

• Structured communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to matrix organizations and reporting to managers outside Italy

• Experience with tender / e-procurement platforms and digital workflows

This position combines people leadership, strategic thinking and operational excellence. It offers significant ownership and autonomy to shape tender and contract approaches across multiple divisions within a complex, matrix organization.