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- Tasks: Manage contracts and ensure smooth operations while supporting a transformative programme.
- Company: Join the Department for Work and Pensions, a key player in civil service innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, a generous pension, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the lives of 230,000 civil servants with your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Work from vibrant DWP hubs in Birmingham, Blackpool, or Leeds.
The predicted salary is between 45500 - 66058 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the Contract Manager role at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Join to apply for the Contract Manager role at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provided pay range
This range is provided by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Direct message the job poster from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Pay up to ÂŁ66,058 plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, flexible hours, and great work life balance.
Do you want to be part of an energetic, innovative team and bring your skills to one of the biggest changes to the administration of the Civil Service in decades?
We’re looking for people who are flexible, intuitive and are comfortable working in a challenging, cross-cutting programme environment.
About the role:
The Synergy Programme is the largest of five departmental clusters, comprising the Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. The Department of Work and Pensions hosts the Synergy Programme. Your work will impact the procurement arrangements for the next 15 years, impacting over 50% of all Civil Servants – that’s around 230,000 people in these departments and their arms-length bodies.
Success of the Programme is crucial as Civil Servants rely on shared services to provide business critical tools in human resources, finance, payroll, and procurement. It affects everything we do, from joining a department as a new starter, the way we claim for expenses, how we buy goods and services such as our laptops and canteen provisions, to the way we receive our pensions when we retire.
We’re looking for applications from people who can also demonstrate a passion for our core ambition – delivering a once in a generation, transformed service that Civil Servants will use as a result of the Synergy Programme.
Your role:
- Provide operational ownership, influence and management throughout the life of contracts.
- Maintain a live Contract Management Plan (CMP) and ensure all associated trackers (risks, issues, variations, performance) are kept up to date.
- Support the Head of Contract Management by owning the contractual relationship between Synergy and Suppliers.
- Offer exceptional customer service to internal and external stakeholders, to build strong links and understand cross-cutting issues, whilst contributing towards their resolution.
- Act as a central point of contact and source of information for operational stakeholders and end users.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in all aspects of contracts.
- Develop and maintain supplier performance dashboards (Excel or Power BI), reporting monthly to programme governance boards.
- Performance management of the achievement of qualitative and quantitative standards against mutual key performance indicators.
- Ensuring the timeliness and accuracy of supplier data entry and returns.
- Provide advice on contract management practices, providing guidance and insights to manage and develop key supplier relationships.
- Financial management of contracts, working with Finance and Commercial colleagues to ensure forecasts are accurate and spend is accurate against supplier delivery.
- Ensuring contract changes are appropriately controlled and supporting stakeholders through the correct governance channels.
- Support exit and transition planning, ensuring all exit-related obligations are documented, risk-assessed, and monitored through governance.
What do we need to see from you?
- Experience of contract management, and experience of delivering ongoing contract management in a complex environment (Lead Criteria).
- Experience managing end-to-end contract performance and variation control across high-value digital or ERP-related contracts.
- Ability to lead and maintain Contract Management Plans (CMPs), trackers, and governance documentation.
- Skilled in performance reporting (Excel/Power BI) and interpreting KPIs to drive corrective action.
- Effective cross-functional working with Commercial, PMO, Legal, and Finance to resolve complex contract issues.
- Strong communications skills, to effectively challenge assumptions and influence direction, with the ability to build consensus across a large and diverse group of stakeholders.
- Evidence of critical problem solving and issue resolution in a fast-paced and often ambiguous environment.
- Previous experience in a contract or supplier management role and experience of providing strategic direction and leadership.
- Previous experience of managing the delivery of a wide range of services.
- Good commercial acumen with experience of projects involving procurement activity.
- Willingness to undergo the Cabinet Office Contract Management Programme to obtain a minimum of Foundation accreditation.
Pay, benefits and culture
You\’ll join us in one of our brilliant DWP hub locations of Birmingham, Blackpool, or Leeds.
Our team loves the ability to balance their life and their work, with flexible hours, flex-friendly, hybrid working (some time in the office, some time at home) and lots more. Flexi-time policy means that at those times when you might need to work longer to get the job done, you build up flexi-credits that you can use to start later or finish earlier or take extra days off.
Our teams are friendly and supportive – the work we do is important, but your life, health and happiness come first.
In return for your skills, we offer salary range of ÂŁ55,557 – 66,058 p.a., an attractive civil service pension with employer contributions of over 28.97% into a defined benefit pension scheme. You\’ll also get a generous leave package starting at 25 days plus all the usual bank holidays, and the option to take extra days off on flexi leave.
We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Flexible working and family friendly policies
- Volunteering and charitable giving
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it\’s even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
- Sports and social activities
- Learning and development, including coaching, mentoring, progression opportunities and guaranteed 5-days formal learning per year.
- And lots more
CLICK APPLY for further information and to start an application on Civil Service Jobs.
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Contract Manager employer: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Contact Detail:
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Synergy Programme and its impact on the Civil Service. Understanding the programme's goals and challenges will help you articulate how your skills can contribute to its success during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of the Department for Work and Pensions. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial when discussing your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your experience in contract management, particularly in complex environments. Highlighting your problem-solving skills and ability to manage performance metrics will demonstrate your capability for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your proficiency in tools like Excel and Power BI. Being able to discuss how you've used these tools to manage contracts and report on performance will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in contract management, especially in complex environments. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage end-to-end contract performance and variation control.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the Synergy Programme. Mention how your skills align with the job requirements and express your enthusiasm for contributing to the transformation of services for Civil Servants.
Highlight Key Skills: In your application, emphasise your strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with performance reporting tools like Excel or Power BI. These are crucial for the Contract Manager role.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is essential for a role in contract management.
How to prepare for a job interview at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Contract Manager role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the Synergy Programme and how it impacts the Civil Service. This will help you articulate your understanding and show your enthusiasm for the position.
✨Prepare Examples of Your Experience
Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your skills in contract management, performance reporting, and cross-functional collaboration. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Given the complex environment of the role, be prepared to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous positions. Highlight your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, especially in fast-paced or ambiguous situations.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the Synergy Programme's goals, and how success is measured in the role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
