Contract Manager

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The Role and Our Team

Background:

Building Digital UK (BDUK) is part of the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) responsible for delivering the governments ambition to deliver improved digital infrastructure across fixed and mobile broadband to the hardest-to-reach areas of the UK. Our people are our most important asset. They drive our success and we thrive on their individual and collective talent, skills and experience.

BDUK delivers benefits to people and communities across the UK. Through improving broadband and 4G connectivity in rural and hard to reach locations, we are future proofing the UK for its digital needs in years to come.

We are guided by the DSIT values: We are expert together, we are inventive and we are impact driven. We are passionate about BDUK standing out as a brilliant place to work, where everyone develops in a rewarding role that makes a difference.

BDUK is responsible for delivering two large digital infrastructure programmes:

Project Gigabit - a 5 billion programme to roll out gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-reach communities across the UK; and

The Shared Rural Network - a 0.5 billion programme working with the UKs Mobile Network Operators to extend 4G mobile coverage into rural and remote areas.

Primary Purpose:

The role holder will manage contract management activity across the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS) contracts. This will consist of in-life contract and supplier management, ensuring delivery of gigabit capable infrastructure to agreed funding, ensuring effective risk management of delivery to contract terms and exit management.

Key Responsibilities:

Work with the Contract Management team and supplier contract management stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of the contract

Have a good understanding of the contractual terms and conditions and implement contractual templates and processes

Support the procurement process, including managing timelines and systems/process for supplier bids and leading on the Clarification Questions process

Maintain the Contract Management Plan (CMP) and ensure stakeholders manage their obligations under the contract, including areas such as risk management, exit planning, Modern Slavery compliance and business continuity.

Ensure all Social Value obligations are understood by the supplier and lead on making certain those obligations are delivered.

Monitor supplier performance using tools and systems as well as running processes to monitor supplier compliance.

Challenge suppliers, where necessary, on costs and commercial assumptions and escalate to the Senior Contract Manager or Contract Lead as necessary.

Extract and review relevant contractual Management Information. Track spend, supplier performance and continuous improvement.

Coordinate the contract change process. Participate in intervention area scope change discussions and requests using a standard document template to capture all Supplier and Authority actions.

Manage internal and external contract meetings and documentation

Identify and escalate risks and issues, including implementing mitigation strategies, maintaining documentation, and updating the risk system. Ensure reporting of key contract risks to the Contract Lead.

Comply with all Departmental controls relating to commercial practice and otherwise, including strict adherence to delegated authorities, and ensuring adherence to governance, legislative and policy requirements as appropriate.

Be a key member of the commercial team and proactively support the development and continuous improvement of contract processes to drive operational efficiency

Provide direction to other BDUK teams with regards to internal commercial processes, governance and approvals, and support development and improvement of operational efficiencies.

Ensure you are up to date with Cabinet Office standards and best practice, PPNs and new legislative requirements.

Keep abreast of the marketplace and understand the bigger picture and wider impact of contracts you are responsible for.

Adopt a proactive attitude to taking on other ad-hoc tasks as and when required by the organisation.

Essential Criteria

Experience working with suppliers or customers and dealing with complex issues.

Track record of managing supplier performance reports or internal reports such as a Risk and Issue Register or Contract Change Log.

Experience managing or supporting with complex contracts.

Keen desire to learn and work in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Criteria

Awareness of public sector procurement legislation;

An understanding of the telecoms marketplace

Experience working with cross functional teams

Experience working with contract management systems or other forms of management systems