Contracts and Projects Officer

Salary Range: SSA PO2 £40,737- £49,365
12 months Fixed Term, 36 hours per week
Location: Wandsworth

Other essential information: The role sits within Culture & Leisure, Resident Services. It is responsible to the Parks Operations Manager and has no direct line management responsibility. The post supports contract management, procurement, project coordination and stakeholder engagement across the culture and leisure portfolio.

Objective of role: You will support the effective monitoring and management of culture and leisure contracts across Richmond and Wandsworth, leading on specific areas of work as directed and working in partnership to realise positive benefits and outcomes for residents. You will actively contribute to the delivery of high-quality cultural and leisure services through effective contract management and project coordination, helping ensure commissioned services, partnerships and capital projects are delivered on time, within budget and in line with strategic objectives for culture, leisure and community wellbeing. You will also support senior managers to develop, procure, manage and deliver contracts and projects that support both Councils' Corporate Plans and strategic policy objectives.

About the role: This role offers the opportunity to work across a varied culture and leisure portfolio, including contracts and projects linked to libraries, museums, sports centres, arts organisations, parks, open spaces and cemeteries. You will help keep services on track, support good governance and build productive working relationships with providers, partners, community groups and colleagues.

• Monitoring and managing contracts with external providers, including service level agreements, KPIs and statutory requirements;
• Supporting contract renewals, variations and procurement activity in collaboration with legal and procurement colleagues;
• Planning and coordinating capital and service improvement projects, including timelines, budgets, risk registers and stakeholder engagement;
• Maintaining accurate records and reporting systems for contract performance;
• Preparing reports, briefings and presentations for senior management and elected members;
• Representing the council at meetings, forums and events, and responding to enquiries and feedback from stakeholders and service users;
• Supporting funding bids, initiatives, web pages, information sources and marketing materials where required;
• Providing administrative support, including action logs, data analysis and document preparation.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Qualification: A degree and/or a relevant professional qualification.
• Experience: Reasonable experience of working in culture, leisure, sport or recreation, or in contract management.
• Knowledge: An understanding of managing small projects and applying project management techniques and skills.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise reports and prepare high-quality presentations.
• Stakeholder relationships: The ability to establish and build effective relationships with partner organisations, including private sector providers, and work effectively as part of a team.
• Workload Management: The ability to research, analyse, interpret and present information, draw clear conclusions, plan and prioritise work effectively, meet deadlines and use word-processing, spreadsheet and networked PC packages, with an understanding of basic web design.

Closing Date: 1st September 2026
Shortlisting Date: W/C 7th September 2026
Interview Date: 14th September 2026

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.