Deputy Head of Contract Management

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 411069

**Salary**:

- £54,470 - £61,000
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Grade 7

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- APHA - Veterinary - Contract Management Team

**Type of role**:

- Procurement and Contracts Management

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Sand Hutton or York

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
The Contract Management Team (CMT) provides APHA with expertise to ensure the Agency robustly manages its external contracts throughout the contract lifecycle, from contract design, to procurement, to ongoing operational and performance management, and regular review. CMT is essentially an enabling team, working alongside and with operational / technical leads from business areas across the Agency to commission and facilitate new procurements, support the ongoing management of contracts, and provide assurance to APHA’s leadership team. The team ensures that all contracts deliver upon service requirements, adhere to terms and conditions, and are managed commercially to extract maximum value for money.

The Agency’s contract portfolio includes circa 280 ongoing contracts and frameworks, equating to over £900 million lifetime value.

The team manages APHA’s relationship with Defra Group Commercial (DgC), Crown Commercial Service, the Cabinet Office and Defra Legal for all contractual matters. CMT also directly manages APHA’s use of Defra-wide and cross-Government contracts and frameworks, including liaison with Defra Group Fleet Services for the Agency’s lease car scheme and fleet, and APHA’s GPC policy and management.

CMT holds strategic responsibility for APHA’s relationship with all external suppliers, sets the standard for contract management and commercial behaviours across the Agency, and ensures efficient and effective management throughout the contract lifecycle.

CMT is a dispersed, diverse and approachable team, with dedicated individuals and a culture of mutual support across all levels. Everyone works with high degrees of independence, initiative and empowerment, but also with a keenness to support one another with whatever range of challenges arise

**Job description**:
The role involves a high degree of co-ordination across internal business areas, other Government organisations, external suppliers and other stakeholders, providing professional contract management and commercial advice to senior leaders across APHA. APHA’s contract requirements are frequently highly complex and sensitive in nature, working with specialised supplier markets where there may be few providers and a high degree of interdependency with suppliers.

The Deputy Head of Contract Management (DHCM) will:

- Deputise for the Head of Contract Management (HoCM) and support the overall management of the CMT;
- Take the lead in managing a portfolio area of contracts, including line management of other Contract Managers and support staff;
- Directly managing an individual portfolio of contracts;
- Support the HoCM in approving new procurement activity and contract changes for APHA, working with Defra Group Commercial to agree appropriate ‘routes to market’ and input to procurement strategies;
- Implement best practice contract management and commercial approach across APHA, aligned with Cabinet Office and Defra policies and guidance, and APHA’s own contract management strategy;
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with both external suppliers, internal operational / technical leads, Defra Group Commercial teams and other stakeholders, acting as a senior level interface;
- During a disease outbreak or other emergency situation, the whole of CMT is expected to work with operational leads and external suppliers to support the Agency’s response, including potentially out of hours.

**Person specification**:
It is important that, through your CV and Personal Statement, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria listed. A proven track record of:

- Significant experience of working within a contract management or related environment in a large complex organisation, preferably within the public sector, and with an advanced understanding of contract management principals and relevant legislation;
- In depth knowledge and demonstrable experience of negotiating with a diverse range of suppliers, customer engagement techniques and performance management of suppliers;
- Experience of managing large strategic supplier relations, and a strong commercial acumen, with the ability to positively influence internal and external customers at all levels;
- In depth knowledge of public procurement processes, tools and techniques, with a sound understanding of relevant legislation;
- Experience of managi