Head of Contract

Job Introduction
The railway has seen nearly 200 years of technology and innovation that has transformed how we provide services to passengers and freight customers.

Technology is continuing to transform the railway industry. Imagine an exciting environment where Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) are not just buzzwords but the driving force behind every operation, every decision, and every solution.

As part of the DDaT directorate, you have a unique opportunity to enable our customers and industry partner with modern and transformative technology. From the day-to-day IT operations that keeps a national railway running, to the extensive delivery programmes that our helping to reshape the railway - we are at the forefront of all of it. We operate with a talented and passionate workforce, fostering empowered individuals and teams who understand that technology is not just a tool - it's the catalyst for progress, especially in an ever-demanding industry where change is a constant.

Get ready to embark on a journey where your skills will not just be utilised; they'll be honed and expanded. You're not just joining a team; you're becoming part of a collective force helping to build and operate a railway fit for the next 200 years

Main Responsibilities
You will set and lead the strategic direction and run the day-to-day operational contract and supplier management for IT & Telecoms, through the management of performance, compliance and value for the supply chain and partners.

**What will you be doing?**
- Establish and set strategic direction of “project” and “post” contract management “in life” services, including the supporting of negotiation of complex contractual and managed services agreements, so that value is maximised for the IT & Telecoms function.
- Lead a team to advise and support the development and monitoring of contracts and agreements (pre/post contract to enable delivery of business solutions/services and operations in a commercial manner, via third party suppliers.
- Lead and manage on supplier management process and team, engaging with the suppliers and partners to enable and maintain adherence to contract terms, conditions, scope, financial governance, and compliance to change management, key obligation, and compliance tracking,
- Control and advise on in-life contractual service performance and cost exposure, resolving any issues across complex service delivery programmes to manage risk, cost avoidance and delivery against efficiency targets.
- Lead teams across IT & Telecoms to manage the development of third-party contracts whilst managing that the appropriate governance process has been adhered to, advising project teams accordingly (including managing change control, claims management, negotiation on pricing, timeframes and impact to financial cost and incremental budgets).
- Lead on the optimisation of third party performance, through measures and KPIs, costs and efficiency through relationship management, driving effective improvement plans and contract negotiations.
- Lead and manage the interface with all internal stakeholders, Contracts & Procurement (Route Services) and legal services, to optimise the accountabilities and outcomes are realised in a timely fashion to provide governance to gain optimisation of the contract (e.g. licencing).
- Lead, inspire and motivate a team to create a high performing team, whilst developing individual capability in line with individual needs and organisational requirements to enable the achievement of strategic goals and objectives.
- Maintain a register of contracts and best practice process to contract renewals and negotiations that captures and validates ongoing requirements and managed in a timely fashion to maximise negotiation opportunities in terms of costs and contract terms.
- Develop and maintain financial/costs models (Total cost of ownership/Return on investment within both Capex and Opex) to assess and monitor total cost of third-party commercial commitments and optimise costs by driving through efficiencies, budgeting and financial governance.
- Provide consultancy and advisory support for high profile work package / statement of work contracts to support the function to deliver against the strategic plan. Proactively challenge funded or customer funded business cases and operate implications, appropriate procedures and systems of internal control to manage the governance process and manage financial risk
- Extensive experience in a senior in-life contracting and supplier management and senior leadership roles.
- Strong leadership, excellent communication and conflict management skills Excellent Business Acumen with strong commercial focus and financially astute, Profit & Loss management experience and previous experience of advising at a leadership board
- Extensive experience of contract negotiations, preferably in telecoms or IT services industry and public sector
- Extensive knowledge of Contract and supplier Ma