Contract Manager

Have you successfully managed complex contracts and supplier relationships to deliver value for money?

Can you lead end-to-end procurement activity, including writing Invitation to Tenders and evaluating tender responses?

Do you have the skills to influence senior stakeholders and negotiate successful commercial outcomes?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

This is an exciting time to join the Digital, Information and Security Directorate within the Department for Transport as we restructure our directorate to ensure we are ready for future challenges, building a more sustainable, skilled and in-house capability.

You'll be joining a supportive and collaborative team at the heart of our digital function, where you'll have a unique opportunity to lead high-profile commercial contracts, influence senior decision-makers, and deliver tangible improvements in service quality and value for money. Working in a fast-paced and evolving environment, you'll shape commercial strategies, manage key supplier relationships, and play a critical role in ensuring the successful delivery of digital services across the Department for Transport.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the Kings birthday.

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

As a Contract Manager, you will be responsible for managing supplier contracts and commercial agreements across the Digital, Information and Security (DIS) directorate, ensuring they deliver value for money and meet business needs. Reporting to the Senior Business Manager, you will maintain effective supplier relationships, monitor contract performance, manage commercial risks and ensure compliance with relevant policies and governance requirements.

You will play a key role in supporting procurement activity, financial oversight and business planning, using data and insight to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement. Working with colleagues across DIS and external suppliers, you will help ensure commercial arrangements support the successful delivery of digital services and organisational objectives. Strong communication, stakeholder management and analytical skills are essential, alongside the ability to manage competing priorities and provide sound commercial advice.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

• Managing a complex/high-value caseload of supplier contracts across the Digital Information and Security directorate, ensuring compliance with commercial and procurement policies.
• Monitoring contract performance, service delivery, and financial spend against agreed terms and conditions.
• Tracking and managing supplier performance, KPIs and deliverables each month. Lead monthly performance and delivery reviews with the supplier and contract owners to ensure the contracts are effective.
• Acting as the primary point of contact for suppliers on contract-related matters, building effective working relationships.
• Supporting the Senior Business Manager in ensuring supplier payments, contract variations, and financial commitments are accurately managed.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Essential Qualifications:

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Robust knowledge and experience of contract management, commercial principles and successfully managing complex commercial relationships.
• Extensive experience of writing procurement specifications, managing supplier days and co-ordinating evaluation of tender responses.
• Successful track record in being able to identify and deliver value for money and improved delivery through both strategic commercial management and robust contract management.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and lead engagements to influence and negotiate with a wide network of senior stakeholders, including across functions or with external providers.
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy, and ability to maintain and manage confidential or sensitive information.
• An ability to gather and produce information, data, insight and evidence in a way that can be used to inform decisions on complex issues.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays. 

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.