Contract Support Officer

General Information

Salary

£48,305 - £52,935

Working Pattern

Full Time

Vacancy Approach

External

Location

Buxton, Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Mansfield, Nottingham

Region

East Midlands

Closing Date

10-Nov-2025

Business Unit

NPS East Midlands Community Integration (2021)

Post Type

Fixed Term

Civil Service Grade

Other

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

10961

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

Accountable to a designated Senior Contract Manager (SCM) the CSO will support efficient and effective contract management, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, within their area. The post holder will also support the work of their local contract management team and Operational and System Assurance Group to quality assure and audit operational service delivery and deliver the Annual Service Operational Audit Plan.

It is an offender facing role in terms of working with service users to ascertain their views on the services received.

The post holder will contribute to the support of a portfolio of contracts within the PS regions, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Service contracts, and it involves complex stakeholder and delivery chain relationships.

The geographical base for the CSO post can be flexible within their contract management area and may require some work in London and other locations.

Summary

The CSO is a support role with administrative, secretariat and data handling and analysis responsibilities. Overall, the post contributes to the support of the contract management team with their remit to monitor and validate provider performance, assure delivery of services in the community and manage the relevant contracts.

Working alongside the Senior Contract Manager and Service Manager (SM), the CSO will support the delivery of the contract management governance processes in relation to designated providers. They will provide a secretariat service by coordinating Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, Change Management Board and other groups as directed by the SCM and SM.

The post-holder will support the work of their local contract management team and operational audit activity to assist the process of OA such as data collection and analysis, research and observation of provider practice and performance.

The post holder will undertake research and analysis activities as required which will demand initiative and self-motivation. E.g., review of stakeholder surveys and opinions, development of 'good practice' case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring the provision of third-party commissioned services.

The post holder will also ensure that changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.

The geographical base for the CSO post can be flexible within their contract management area and will require some work in London and other locations.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Providing secretariat support to the Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers; Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, Change Management Board and any other meetings convened by them.

o Arranging and distributing the agenda and papers with direction from the relevant chair.

o Producing first draft minutes and action logs.

O Maintaining formal documentation, Terms of Reference, membership and distribution lists.

o Following-up with action owners for updates.

o Filing, archiving and enacting version control on all relevant documentation.

• Supporting their local contract management team and OSAG to deliver their annual programme of assurance activities to operationally audit and analyse provider delivery data including: regular sample testing of provider performance information and validation of reported data; involvement in periodic process review activities; and observation of provider activities.
• Reviewing and monitoring performance data in relation to designated providers.
• Supporting Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers in the delivery of on-going contract management activities with providers – e.g., following-up requests for information from Commissioned Rehabilitative Providers, scheduling of ad hoc meetings.
• Conducting research and analysis activities as required by team managers – e.g., review of stakeholder surveys and opinions, analysis of MI trends and issues, development of 'good practice' case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring the Provision of third-party commissioned services.
• Support the National Strategic Contract Management team and national supplier level management through liaison, consultation, information sharing and acting on guidance to ensure consistency.
• Providing information to Director/ MoJ and others as required.
• Ensuring changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustment may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Experience

• Good understanding of HMPPS strategic direction
• Good level of confidence sufficient to allow post holder to represent the organisation in a professional manner to a range of stakeholders
• Sound skills to enable management of effective relationships in a contractual and political environment
• Sound knowledge of Project and Programme management techniques
• Sound attributes to prioritise the management of tasks and risks and with appropriate support, advice and guidance deliver tasks to time
• Sound problem solving, planning and communication skills
• Strong numerical and IT skills with strong presentation skills (written and verbal)
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong networking capabilities enabling the development of productive working relationships across organisational boundaries and across all levels of an organisation
• Working knowledge of public, private, social enterprise, charitable, voluntary and community sector organisations
• Strong analytical skills and research and evaluation skills to make informed judgements on concern and gaps in provision
• Sound ability to work in a dispersed team and be a self-motivator with the capacity to organise and prioritise on the basis of organisational reputation/ financial risk
• Strong Business support and/or secretariat experience
• Experience of co-ordinating, organising, reviewing and taking minutes of high level meetings in a politically sensitive environment involving a wide range of senior representatives
• Strong commitment to valuing and promoting diversity as the vehicle for achieving successful business outcomes
• Strong commitment to excellence within a changing landscape with the ability to innovate and adapt working style
  Good ability to maintain professional integrity and ad- nce to organisational priorities in the face of competing pressures

Technical Requirements

No specific qualifications are essential but experience and qualifications relevant to contract support and contract management are desirable.

Ability

• Psychometric tests will not be required to assess the ability of post holders.

Additional Information

This is a 12 month fixed term position with the possibility to extend.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. T are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

Support

• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-);
  To the Civil Service Commission (details available- )

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit:

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-

Please quote the job reference

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-

Please quote the job reference

Job Description Attachment

• 1898 Contract Support Offficer JD (Job Description Attachment)

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Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit

250

Changing and Improving

Making Effective Decisions

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

To be confirmed

Behaviours

Changing and Improving

Making Effective Decisions

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Strengths

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed .

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Level of security checks required

DBS Standard

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