Head of Contracts and Operations - Driving Theory Test in Nottingham

This job is with Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

Are you an experienced leader with a strong track record in service delivery across complex, multi-contract environments? Do you thrive on building relationships, influencing stakeholders, and confidently navigating challenging conversations? Can you inspire and empower teams to work collaboratively towards shared objectives and deliver outstanding results? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is looking for an exceptional Head of Contracts and Operations to lead strategic contract management and operational delivery, ensuring high-quality services that make a real difference across the UK.

As Head of Contracts and Operations, you will lead the delivery and continuous improvement of the Driving Theory Test Network and associated services. You will oversee the full contract lifecycle, from pre-procurement planning and market engagement through to contract management, operational delivery, and business improvement.

Working closely with key stakeholders, you will help shape future service delivery models, provide commercial and contractual expertise to the Theory Test Transformation and Relet Programme, and ensure successful transition and mobilisation of new contracts. You will also lead and develop a high-performing contract management team, driving excellent contract outcomes and ensuring the effective operation of the Theory Test Centre Network.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Influence the commercial strategy to best business advantage.
• Contribute to a procurement strategy that delivers fit for purpose commercial arrangements that deliver the required business outcomes.
• Contract management (customer, supplier and operational service), continuous improvement and development of the current and future Theory Test Network contracts to the agreed commercial standards and outcomes.
• Lead the business improvement of Theory Test Contract via membership, as a key stakeholder, of the Theory Test Service Management Group and Strategy Group.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

Required experience:

• You will have demonstrable experience in a commercial environment.
• You will have experience in a service delivery environment, working with multiple contracts.
• You will have excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide guidance and robust recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• You will have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on evidence available to you.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements:

• Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.
• This post also welcomes applications from those looking to work with us on a flexible basis, and condensed hours within the week.
• This role can be based in Nottingham, Swansea, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bristol, Chadderton, Leeds or Birmingham, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you.
• We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location.
• Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.
• This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.
• Some travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

Visa Sponsorship:

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours we'll assess you against during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills we'll assess you against during the selection process:

• Judgement and Leadership
• Business Acumen and Commercial Judgement
• Leadership Skills and Capability

Alongside your salary of £57,515, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Things you need to know:

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Selection process details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation. The selection process for this role will be:

• Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement
• Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Your experience in a commercial environment.
• Your experience in a service delivery environment with multiple contracts.
• Your experience of working in a complex project delivery environment relating to transformation or launch of a customer-facing service.

The sift will take place from 10/08/2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours - (Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and influencing, Leadership, Delivering at Pace)
• Technical - (Judgement and Leadership, Business Acumen and Commercial Judgement, Leadership Skills and Capability)

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviours Communicating and Influencing and Seeing the Big Picture. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview. The interviews will take place from 25/08/2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

Further information on the selection process:

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for.

Reasonable Adjustments:

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process.

Contact point for applicants:

Name: Alexander Fiddes
Email: alexander.fiddes@dvsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team:
Email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk