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- Tasks: Lead contract governance and manage high-profile, business-critical contracts.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on innovation and service improvement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by overseeing essential services and driving innovation.
- Qualifications: Contract Management accreditation or willingness to obtain it within 12 months.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong relationships across teams and stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Job summary
As Head of Operational Contracts, you will be responsible for all matters relating to contract governance, including the full contract life cycle. You will manage high profile, business critical contracts which currently include the provision of storage of a significant quantity of paper records, hybrid mail services, scanning/data extraction, map data and surveying services. You will oversee the effective delivery of services within agreed service level agreements, as well as being the main contact and escalation point for matters which compromise effective delivery of the service. In this role you will oversee all budget and forecasting activities for assigned contracts, regularly reviewing service performance with suppliers and partners, and implementing remedial actions when standards are not met. Responsibilities also include identifying opportunities for innovation and service improvement, supporting organisational objectives through supplier engagement and new technologies, and representing the directorate in major projects. The role involves collaborating with senior managers to proactively manage strategic risks, maintaining alignment with organisational plans, leading and developing a contract management team, and fostering strong relationships with peers, senior stakeholders, and trade unions across the organisation.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will have a contract Management accreditation through the Government Commercial Function (or equivalent recognised body) OR the willingness to work towards gaining accreditation in the first 12 months of the role. You will have experience of:
- Proven ability and experience of both supplier and senior stakeholder management, with strong consultation, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Comprehensive experience in mobilising and managing contracts.
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to forecast, prepare and manage budgets.
- Ability to lead and develop teams across multiple locations to build capability and deliver results.
- Ability to analyse and solve problems with significant business and people impacts.
- Influencing peers and senior managers to achieve desired results.
- Leadership, communication, and inter-personal skills.
- Willingness to test, innovate and challenge existing procedures and practices.
Qualifications
Contract Management accreditation through the Government Commercial Function (or equivalent recognised body) OR the willingness to work towards gaining accreditation in the first 12 months of the role.
Behaviours
We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
How to Apply
Please complete the qualification question: Do you have a Contract Management accreditation through the Government Commercial Function (or equivalent recognised body) OR the willingness to work towards gaining accreditation in the first 12 months of the role. If you answer no, your application will stop here. Please complete your CV to include your work history and qualifications. We will be scoring your CV against the technical criteria and the essential experience:
- Comprehensive experience in mobilising and managing contracts.
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to forecast, prepare and manage budgets.
Then complete the Personal Statement section (in no more than 1000 words), please demonstrate how you meet the following essential Experience criteria:
- Proven ability and experience of both supplier and senior stakeholder management, with strong consultation, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Comprehensive experience in mobilising and managing contracts.
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to forecast, prepare and manage budgets.
- Ability to lead and develop teams across multiple locations to build capability and deliver results.
Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application. Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 11:55pm on the advertised date.
Sift
The sift will take place shortly after the closing date. In case of a high volume of applications, we may complete a pre-sift on your CV.
Interview
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend a virtual, blended interview and deliver a pre-prepared presentation. Details will be provided on invitation to interview. The blended interview will test the experience and Behaviours listed in the ‘Person Specification’ as well as the strengths associated with the role, details will be provided on invitation to interview. We want to hear your first, unrehearsed, natural response to strength questions, and so we don’t advertise which strengths are being tested. The best way to prepare for strengths questions is to reflect on what you identify as your own personal strengths, and your preferred ways of working. We expect interviews to take place during the week commencing the 11th May 2026. Candidates may refer to notes within their video interview, but they should be used as a prompt only.
HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. If you require the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.
Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role is in a certain business critical category. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a skilled worker visa. You must ensure you have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. You can find more information on how we use your personal data on our website.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact: Name: Jason North
Head of Operational Contracts employer: HM Land Registry
Contact Detail:
HM Land Registry Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operational Contracts
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and the role thoroughly. We want you to be able to showcase how your skills align with their needs, especially in contract management and stakeholder engagement.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. We suggest focusing on behavioural questions since they’ll want to see how you handle real-life scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operational Contracts
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you start writing, give the job description a good read. It’s packed with clues about what we’re looking for, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and qualifications. This will help you tailor your application to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Personal Statement: Your personal statement is your chance to shine! Use it to highlight your experience in supplier and stakeholder management, and don’t forget to showcase your financial acumen. Keep it concise but impactful – we want to see how you meet our essential criteria!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Highlight your contract management experience and any leadership roles you've had. We love seeing how you’ve mobilised and managed contracts successfully!
Double-Check Before You Submit: Once you’ve filled everything out, take a moment to review your application. Check for typos, ensure all sections are complete, and confirm that you’ve met the closing date. Remember, once you hit ‘submit’, there’s no going back!
How to prepare for a job interview at HM Land Registry
✨Know Your Contracts Inside Out
As the Head of Operational Contracts, you'll be dealing with various contracts daily. Make sure you understand the full contract life cycle and can discuss specific examples of how you've managed contracts in the past. This will show your expertise and confidence.
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Since strong financial and commercial skills are crucial for this role, prepare to discuss your experience with budgeting and forecasting. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed budgets in previous roles, as this will demonstrate your capability to handle financial responsibilities.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
You'll need to lead and develop teams across multiple locations. Be ready to share stories about how you've motivated teams, resolved conflicts, or improved team performance. Highlighting your leadership style will help the interviewers see how you fit into their organisational culture.
✨Prepare for Strengths Questions
The interview will include strengths-based questions, so take some time to reflect on your personal strengths and preferred working styles. Think of specific situations where you've demonstrated these strengths, as this will help you provide genuine and unrehearsed responses during the interview.