Contracts Manager, Operations Procurement Team

The Procurement Contracts & Finance Team within the Operations Directorate has a vacancy for a Contracts Manager. This is a developing team and this role offers an exciting opportunity to be involved in shaping the team for the future.

The operations procurement team procure contracts for major projects, minor projects, and projects with high value, high risk and/or complex requirements and these will either be via our own tender processes or on occasions via the use of third-party framework agreements.

Your next role

Utilising skills and experience gained within a similar position, you will report to the Procurement Contracts and Finance Manager for the Operations service area and be responsible for overseeing and managing key contracts that have been procured by the team.

The procurement undertaken within this service area covers the following types of activities:

• Housing – responsive repairs, planned and cyclical maintenance programmes
• Corporate buildings – refurbishment and repair projects
• Mechanical and electrical projects
• Compliance projects – asbestos, water, fire safety, lifts, gas and electric
• Fleet and vehicles
• Some highways and waste
• Consultancy requirements e.g. structural engineers, principal designers etc
• There is also a managed stores contract

Your key challenge will be to act as a catalyst for consistent contract management setting a benchmark for supplier relationship management and ensuring that suppliers/contractors are held accountable for contract performance. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in leading and overseeing the effective contract management of our contracts aimed at delivering quality works and services for the benefit of our housing tenants/ residents/customers and the wider community.

This role demands a strong understanding of contract management principles, and the ability to collaborate across various stakeholders, partners and suppliers/contractors to ensure that our contracts continue to meet our budgets, risk management processes, statutory responsibilities, key performance indicators, social value initiatives and wider council priorities. Where applicable you will seek tenant/resident/customer feedback to inform the future procurement of similar works/services.

You should have proven experience in contract management preferably within the public sector working across specialist areas such as construction, housing repair/refurbishment works/improvement programmes as well as knowledge of managing contracts procured using the JCT suite of contracts.  Knowledge and familiarity with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 will be necessary given there are contractual obligations within the new 2023 act that will require compliance.

Given this is a new role, experience of managing and developing teams will be key.

Familiarity of the NEC suite of contracts would also be advantageous as well as the ability to review prices that may have been submitted against the NHF Schedule of Rates.

This is a busy operational service focussed environment. A high level of personal organisation, target focus and attention to detail is required with an ability to complete projects within agreed timelines.

For more detailed information please refer to the job profile and in particular the Knowledge and Experience section prior to submitting an application.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon by 2030 together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details.

Please see our new Swindon Plan

Your next steps

Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity further please contact Tina Meacham, Procurement Contracts & Finance Manager for Operations, email  tmeacham@swindon.gov.uk

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

If you are experiencing difficulties in submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk