Contracts Manager (Operations)

We’re looking for an experienced Contract Manager who thrives in a service-led, operational environment—someone who can turn contractual commitments into consistent, day-to-day delivery. This role is less about technical or construction-focused contract management and more about driving performance, ensuring compliance, and delivering high-quality services across a live housing portfolio.

You’ll work closely with a wide range of internal teams and external partners, building strong relationships, influencing outcomes, and ensuring everyone is clear on what “good” looks like. A key part of the role is interpreting agreements and translating them into practical, operational delivery—ensuring contractual obligations are not only understood but consistently achieved.

We’re particularly interested in candidates who bring strong stakeholder management, a focus on service performance, and the ability to lead in complex, fast-paced environments. Experience in housing, student accommodation, healthcare, or other service-led sectors would be valuable—but we also welcome those with transferable operational management skills who can demonstrate clear impact.

Our vision is to create communities where everyone has a safe home in a place they’re proud to live. We are a large, values-led organisation with a strong local presence, using our scale to deliver positive outcomes for residents and communities. Strong governance, accountability and clear contractual control are central to how we operate.

We are now seeking a highly capable Contract Manager (Operations) to play a pivotal role in strengthening how we manage, govern and optimise our operational contracts. This is a high-impact role offering real autonomy, visibility and influence across a diverse housing portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Operations, you will lead the development and ongoing management of a robust contract management framework across student, keyworker, market rent, co-operative and short-life accommodation. You will ensure contractual arrangements are effectively governed, performance-driven and aligned with strategic objectives and risk appetite—helping to mitigate contractual, financial, legal and reputational risk.

You will act as a trusted subject-matter expert, working closely with internal teams and external partners to embed clarity, accountability and compliance. The role has a strong focus on assurance and insight: monitoring performance, leading audits and reviews, managing risk and breaches, and providing clear, evidence-based reporting to senior leaders, committees and the Board. You will also help shape KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks to ensure strong delivery and value for money.

This role will suit someone comfortable operating in complex environments, leading through influence and supporting executive-level decision-making—while consistently demonstrating core values such as honesty, efficiency, accountability, respect and trust. Hybrid working is available, with a London-based office.

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing, implementing and maintaining a comprehensive contract management framework covering leases, management agreements, SLAs and related contracts
• Establishing and operating effective governance and assurance structures for contractual performance, compliance and risk
• Acting as the organisational subject-matter expert on contractual obligations, providing clear guidance and support
• Conducting audits and reviews to ensure compliance with legislation, regulation and internal policy
• Monitoring provider performance against KPIs, service standards and statutory requirements
• Proactively identifying contractual and operational risks and leading corrective action plans
• Managing key relationships with partners, providers, local authorities and internal stakeholders
• Investigating, documenting and resolving contractual breaches and poor performance, escalating where required
• Leading on contract variations, change control and change-in-law activities, ensuring impacts are clearly understood and recorded
• Producing high-quality reports and insight for senior management, committees and the Board
• Driving continuous improvement in contract management processes, systems and reporting

Hybrid working dependant on experience and performance. Duration 26 weeks, 35 hours per week, £27.95p/h. Based in Greater London.