Contract Manager
- Civil Service
- Full Time
- Lyndhurst
- 40,388 - 43,482
Job Description
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Contract Manager to manage a portfolio of contracts and service agreements, ensuring delivery against agreed specifications, service standards, health and safety requirements, and environmental obligations. This is a key role within the Business and Finance team, leading delivery of our statutory responsibilities, commercial reporting, and ensuring that all the biodiversity programme operations meet budgets. We're looking for someone who can combine contract management with strong leadership, excellent stakeholder management and the ability to work confidently across a diverse operational landscape.
Job description
Key responsibilities & accountabilities
- Work closely with internal stakeholders including land management teams, environment and planning, finance, and commercial services colleagues to ensure contracts meet operational needs.
- Maintain accurate contract documentation, performance records, and management information to support audit, assurance, and reporting requirements.
- Support internal and external audits, inspections, and reviews, providing evidence and assurance on contract compliance and performance.
- Review and validate contractor invoices, applications for payment, or claims to ensure accuracy, eligibility, and value for money.
- Monitor and report contract spend against budgets and forecasts, highlighting variances and supporting financial planning and controls.
- Contribute to commercial reporting and provide management information to senior leaders to support decision-making.
- Promote best practice in contract management across Forestry England, supporting consistent approaches and continuous improvement.
- Identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve contract specifications, performance management approaches, and supplier relationships.
Person specification
Skills, knowledge & experience
Essential experience
- Experience of managing contracts, service agreements, or supplier relationships, ideally in a public sector, land management, infrastructure, or asset-based environment.
- Experience of monitoring performance and managing suppliers to deliver agreed outcomes, quality standards, and value for money.
- Confident communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and challenge constructively where performance or standards fall short.
- Delivers work at pace while maintaining attention to detail and compliance.
- Competent IT user including MS Office
Desirable experience
- Knowledge or understanding of forestry, land management, or environmental services.
- Awareness of Government Commercial Function standards or public sector contract management practices.
- Experience of working with contracts involving health and safety critical activity or environmentally sensitive land.
Qualifications
Essential qualifications
- Full UK driving licence
- Experience working in a contract management role
Desirable qualifications
- A recognised contract management qualification (e.g., CIPS, World CC)
