IT Contract Manager

Job summary

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate.

We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading significant transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. We are also delivering cost- effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services.

Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:

• Striving for excellence - We always aim to deliver great results
• Empowering through respect - We insist on fair treatment for all, always
• Acting with integrity - We consistently do the right thing
• Succeeding together - We rely on each other to achieve success

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth. We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

Job description

This is an opportunity to be a driving force behind the Government Property Agency's ambitious digital transformation. You will take the lead on critical contract management activities within the GPA’s Chief Technology Office, delivering commercial excellence and a customer-centric service that powers the GPA's future.

What You'll Do:

• Lead Contract Management for property technology goods and services: You will be the contract management expert, leading all stages of the contract’s Lifecycle, from procurement to exit and reprocurement again. This involves partnering with stakeholders and third parties to deliver the best outcomes for the GPA from our awarded contracts.
• Shape the Technology Portfolio: Your expertise will be vital across the dynamic Technology category. You'll contribute to the development and delivery of cutting-edge contracts, including technology goods and services, managed service arrangements, managing and measuring implementation partners, and leveraging emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence.
• Influence and Drive Performance: Utilise your contract management acumen to lead project teams, influence key decisions, and drive exceptional performance across the portfolio.
• Grow with the Organisation: While this role begins without direct line management, the Government Property Agency is rapidly expanding, meaning future opportunities for leadership and team management are on the horizon.

Typically, the key responsibilities in this role will include (but are not limited to):

• Managing one or more contracts of medium complexity/value, ensuring effective stakeholder management, governance, performance management frameworks, escalation, risk management, issues resolution, financial management, change control and compliance
• Ensuring the control and delivery of all spend through compliant contracts and publishing details via appropriate media
• Tracking, owning and mitigating risks relating to specific contracts
• Reviewing and understanding the terms and conditions of contracts and deliverables and working with the supplier to establish a plan for delivering them
• Agreeing and clarifying contract management responsibilities with stakeholders and advising them on setting up effective processes
• Developing opportunities to incentivise contract delivery, continuous performance improvement (where appropriate) and identifying where changes in the contract are required
• Overseeing measures and records realisation of benefits achieved as a result of the performance management regime (or change controls)
• Actively reconsidering market approach over time, including shifting balance of mixed market towards private sector provision and examining whether re-aggregation will yield scale efficiencies
• Leading all planning and preparation, goal setting, strategy and tactics for re-procurement and undertaking soft market testing
• Helping to drive innovation in contracts to demonstrate continuous improvement. Continually analysing contracts in order to develop and drive value adding initiatives
• Tracking operational demand and patterns on an ongoing basis and introducing demand management mechanisms where applicable
• Utilising financial management and benchmarking
• Undertaking proactive change controls, such as horizon scanning and evaluating the impact of supplier positioning, such as mergers
• Managing multiple, more complex requirements and contracts concurrently
• Managing assurance requirements and conducting peer reviews
• Negotiating with industry on key issues, such as contract terms, pricing, contract changes, Terms & Conditions and risk and reward
• Maintaining quality and concurrency of systems, reporting and management information
• Mentoring and providing guidance to junior members of the team
• Working within a secure environment on sensitive projects as required

Lifecycle Governance: Design and operate the end-to-end contract management lifecycle process, ensuring every contract is tracked and managed from procurement through to exit and re-procurement.

Tooling Integration: Manage and optimise modern integrated toolsets to maintain a high-fidelity contract register to aid and support the contract lifecycle process

Audit & Compliance: Lead regular audits and reconciliation activities to ensure 100% visibility of the contract portfolio, measuring and managing supplier performance against KPIs and SLAs

Financial Control: Manage and monitor contract budget, spend and performance to ensure that critical services provided to the UK Government are effective. From the procurement stage your role is key to setting and agreeing spending expectations and budgets, through contract award and go live ensuring that spending is within the contract parameters, and credits are received for performance that falls below agreed levels.

Strategic Influence: Act as a key liaison between technical teams, contract owners, senior leadership, and external supply chain partners to embed contract management best practices across the department.

Reporting: Produce and present monthly contract reports that allow key stakeholders to make decisions based on supplier performance, spend/burn down rates, change requirements and future contract needs.

Person specification

• Drive Transformative Commercial Delivery: Lead the end-to-end contract management lifecycle for high-impact activities within the Technology pipeline—from engaging the market to contract award through live operation to contract exit and reprocurement
• Be a Trusted Advisor: Offer expert Contract Management advice and guidance to devolved Contract Managers, safeguarding the GPA's commercial standing, fostering positive supplier relationships, and ensuring consistent, high performance.
• Forge Strategic Partnerships: Cultivate collaborative, high-value relationships with key suppliers, strategic partners, and government-wide stakeholders to achieve exceptional client satisfaction, deliver optimal cost, and drive performance improvements.
• Master Commercial Risk and Resolution: Deepen your understanding of complex contractual arrangements and commercial challenges, working proactively with stakeholders to identify and resolve issues swiftly, ensuring smooth project delivery.
• Influence Across Government: Build vital, effective working relationships with colleagues across the GPA and key external government bodies (including Crown Commercial Service and Cabinet Office) and strategic suppliers, positioning yourself as a central commercial figure.
• Shape Commercial Talent: Provide essential commercial advice and mentorship to a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior GPA members, helping to elevate the organisation's overall commercial awareness.
• Develop the Future of Technology Contracts: Play an active role in enhancing the contract management function by contributing to the development of new policies, templates, and commercial strategies that will be rolled out across the department.
• Elevate Organisational Capability: Champion the development of contract management skills across the GPA workforce, ensuring all colleagues have the necessary expertise to excel in their roles.
• Contribute to National Missions: Collaborate with colleagues to ensure the GPA meets its strategic goals, including promoting economic growth, transforming the Civil Service, contributing to the Net Zero agenda, and consistently delivering better value for the taxpayer.
• Lead with Accountability: Take full ownership and be accountable to seniors within the Chief Technology Office for the integrity and success of all commercial activities you manage.

Essential criteria:

Contract Management:

• Has experience in conducting contract management for one or more low-medium complexity/value contracts
• Has strong understanding of all aspects of contract management and how it fits in the commercial lifecycle

Commercial Focus:

• Has strong commercial knowledge, understands commercial law and can use key commercial tools appropriately

Risk and Assurance Management:

• Demonstrates the ability to manage cyber, personnel and physical risks within an area of responsibility

Commercial Ethics:

• Demonstrates the ability to apply standards to eliminate corruption, fraud and unethical behaviour in supply chains, taking appropriate actions in the event of any alleged breach of standards

Team Focus:

• Demonstrates the ability to work as part of a team to support their performance, manage setbacks and resolve issues internally

Build Relationships:

• Demonstrates the ability to communicate with stakeholders at all levels using different communication styles to articulate the benefits that have been achieved and to establish governance and relationship arrangements

Desirable criteria:

Public Sector Commercial Landscape:

• Possesses a comprehensive understanding of government procurement processes and the application of relevant commercial frameworks.

Analytical Insight and Performance:

• Demonstrates the ability to leverage Management Information and sophisticated data analytics to identify trends and enhance supplier delivery.

Essential criteria:

• At least one Commercial qualification such as CIPS, CMCP (or equivalent)

Desirable criteria:

• CMCP expert level

CIPS Level 3 or above

You will need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of security vetting being undertaken for the role, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency, SC is 5 years UK residency, and DV is 10 years UK residency.

If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the recruitment team prior to submitting your application.

Qualifications

CIPS, CMCP (or equivalent)