At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the management of a flagship employment programme across Central London boroughs.
- Company: Join a dynamic partnership driving inclusive growth in Central London.
- Benefits: Full-time hybrid role with competitive salary and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on employment outcomes for residents in a high-profile government programme.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing large-scale government-funded contracts and strong relationship management skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Department: Central London Forward
Office Location: Guildhall
Level of DBS required: Standard
No security vetting required. Not politically restricted. No BPSS required.
Contractual hours: 35
Work Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9:15am – 5:00pm
Basis: Full-Time, Fixed Term/Secondment - 1 year
Workplace category: Hybrid
Overview
Shape the delivery of a flagship employment programme across Central London. Central London Forward (CLF) is the strategic sub-regional partnership of 12 central London boroughs, working together to drive inclusive growth and improve outcomes for residents and businesses. We are seeking an experienced Connect to Work Contract Manager to lead the contract management of the Connect to Work programme across our member boroughs on a one year fixed term contractor secondment. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in managing delivery of a high-profile employment programme, ensuring strong performance, effective partnership working and excellent contract governance.
About the role
Working closely with the Greater London Authority, our 12 member boroughs, delivery partners and wider stakeholders, you will build on the success of Year 1 delivery and ensure Year 2 continues to provide high quality support to our borough residents and meet key milestones. You will provide robust contract management, performance oversight and compliance assurance, while building strong relationships that enable collaborative and effective delivery across the sub-region. The role has significant responsibility for the financial management of this high value government programme, ensuring public funds are managed effectively, contractual claims are robust and accurate, and financial reporting meets the requirements of both the GLA and DWP. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable analysing financial and performance data, managing contractual obligations and engaging senior stakeholders across local government and national partners.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Managing the delivery of a high-value DWP-funded employment contract across Central London's 12 boroughs.
- Maintaining strong relationships with senior officers across our member local authorities, GLA and delivery providers.
- Monitoring contract performance against agreed KPIs and outcomes, identifying risks and driving continuous improvement.
- Ensuring contractual compliance, quality assurance and effective governance arrangements are in place.
- Leading contract review meetings, performance discussions and reporting to programme boards and senior stakeholders.
- Managing contract variations, risks, issues and escalation processes where required.
- Supporting boroughs to achieve consistently high standards of programme delivery and participant outcomes.
- Working collaboratively to identify opportunities for innovation, learning and best practice across the partnership.
- Managing a high value budget to ensure spend and claims are rigorously managed and reported.
- Travel to borough sites will be part of the role.
About you
You will bring:
- Significant experience managing large-scale, high-value DWP-funded contracts or similar government-funded employment programmes.
- Experience of managing substantial programme budgets, financial monitoring, forecasting, claims and grant reporting within publicly funded programmes.
- Significant experience of contract management, performance management and compliance within large scale publicly funded programmes.
- Strong relationship management skills, with experience of working across multiple local authorities, funding bodies and complex partnerships.
- Experience of monitoring KPIs, analysing financial and performance data and driving service improvement.
- Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Experience of identifying and managing contractual, financial and operational risks.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and present complex financial and performance information to senior stakeholders.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to balance support, challenge and accountability across multiple partners.
This is an opportunity to help shape the delivery of one of the largest government’s flagship employment programmes across Central London. You'll work at the heart of a unique partnership of 12 boroughs, influencing strategic delivery, improving employment outcomes for residents and making a tangible difference across the capital. If you are an experienced contract manager with a strong track record of delivering complex DWP-funded programmes and building successful partnerships, we'd love to hear from you.
Closing date: 23:59pm Wednesday 29th July 2026
Equal Opportunities
The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications. Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role. It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. We are committed to considering requests to work flexibly and job share. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs. For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide here. We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.
Connect to Work - Contract Manager in London employer: City of London
The City of London is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for professional growth as an Apprentice Trading Standards Officer in the heart of Guildhall. With a strong emphasis on structured training and development, employees are supported in their journey to tackle important regulatory challenges while working within a dedicated team. The vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Connect to Work - Contract Manager in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Connect to Work - Contract Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
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How to prepare for a job interview at City of London
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with City of London, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
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