Contract Manager

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £62,826.03 per annum

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, Hybrid

Location: Arlington House, Camden, London

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

Please note that whilst we will accept applications based on any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.

The difference you will make as a Contract Manager

You will be responsible for leading and managing all operational sub-contractor activities within the Repairs and Maintenance workstreams. Ensuring the provision of a compliant approach to subcontractor works delivery. Your role will be responsible for ensuring all works delivered by subcontractors are to a high quality and represent value for money to ensure the efficient maintenance and repair of Riverside Group housing stock. The role will be part of the External Contract Management team and there will be a requirement to work proactively and collaboratively with management teams, planning teams, Customer Experience teams and Commercial Officers to ensure continuous improvement is achieved across all workstreams and key performance indicators are achieved by Riverside Property Services.

About you

• In depth knowledge of managing repairs and maintenance contracts in a social housing or property management environment.
• Degree in Estate Management, Surveying, Contract Management or experience equivalent.
• Knowledge of building construction and maintenance.
• Strong experience working with contractors and managing performance against SLAs.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview. This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.

Role Profile

• Monitor and commercially control all work undertaken within either a geographical or property type or contract specific area.
• Monitor progress, quality and completion of works delivered by subcontractors within the requirements of the term briefs and to the highest levels of quality standards whilst having regard for resident satisfaction and a right first time service to residents.
• Effectively manage the use of subcontractors, ensuring that they comply with the Group standards of work performance, customer service and Health & Safety procedures.
• Management of Subcontractors to maximize contract performance against KPI’s, minimize default notices and penalties and ensure high levels of quality and customer service to achieve key performance targets and objectives.
• Awareness of the subcontractor cost model of such items as working hours, supply chain, equipment, vehicles, stock and tools, thus minimizing wastage and avoidable expenditure.
• Awareness of company and contractual documentation in readiness for invoicing review of subcontractor debt profiles to mitigate legal challenges and negative impact on operational delivery.
• Gain appropriate sign off for expenditure and identify cost effective service delivery options to reduce costs and obtain social value.
• Ensure contract management processes are robust and consistently applied within the business creating a culture of continuously improving quality while maintaining very strong customer relationships.
• Expand and develop internal senior relationships with key stakeholders – Regions / other Strategic Business Units / Legal / Commercial / Finance / Procurement, etc.
• Manage and oversee a high performing sub-contractor management framework across the directorate by embedding a high-performance culture including practical risk and opportunity management processes which are simple to apply and really do add value.
• Operate the agreed Contract Management Framework, particularly monthly meetings/reviews with subcontractors to improve results for customer satisfaction, time cost, quality and H&S performance indicators.
• Manage, assist and oversee formal coaching, training and professional development programs to improve contract management awareness and skill levels across the Repair and ensure good practice is shared and adopted as BAU across all the Repairs and Maintenance contracts and operational teams.
• Monitor performance against contract/workstream specific requirements and produce performance reports for Assistant Director, Senior Management team and other relevant audiences.
• Responsible for up to five colleagues, set, monitor and manage targets and objectives, conduct one to ones identifying and implementing any training and development needs and take appropriate action in cases of underperformance.
• Ensure that all workloads, operative performance and costs are managed. Monitor performance of all Operatives and subcontractors and take appropriate action in cases of under performance.
• Provide repairs contract guidance and support to management teams, planning and customer services teams.
• Collaborate with the management team to develop maintenance strategies, budgets and schedules relevant to workstream as required.
• Ensure that all Health and Safety requirements are followed, conducting risk assessments as necessary.
• Lead and develop a high performing contract management team across the directorate by embedding a high-performance culture including practical risk and opportunity management processes which are simple to apply and really do add value.
• Develop and implement informal and formal coaching, training and professional development programs to improve contract management awareness and skill levels across the Repairs and Maintenance team and ensure good practice is shared and adopted as BAU across all the Repairs and Maintenance contracts and operational teams.

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• In depth knowledge of managing repairs and maintenance contracts in a social housing or property management environment.
• Degree in Estate Management, Surveying, Contract Management or experience equivalent.
• Knowledge of building construction and maintenance.
• Strong experience working with contractors and managing performance against SLAs.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with internal teams, contractors, and tenants.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance.
• Ability to solve problems effectively and efficiently.
• Leadership and people management skills.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to high quality work.
• Strong negotiation skills for managing contractors and resources.
• A proactive approach with a focus on continuous improvement.

Desirable

• High Numeracy and problem-solving skills.
• Good I.T skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and build strong working relationships.
• Customer focus.
• Knowledge of National Housing Federation Schedule of Rates.