Senior Contracts Officer, Operations Procurement Team

At Swindon Borough Council, we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for - the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.

The Procurement Contracts & Finance Team within the Operations Directorate has a vacancy for a Senior Contracts Officer. This is a developing team and this role offers an exciting opportunity to be involved in shaping the team for the future.

The operations procurement team procure contracts for major projects, minor projects, and projects with high value, high risk and/or complex requirements and these will either be via our own tender processes or on occasions via the use of third-party framework agreements.

**Your next role**

Utilising skills and experience gained within a similar position, you will report to the Contracts Manager for the Operations service area and be responsible for assisting with the management of key contracts that have been procured by the team.

The procurement undertaken within this service area covers the following types of activities:

- Housing - responsive repairs, planned and cyclical maintenance programmes
- Corporate buildings - refurbishment and repair projects
- Mechanical and electrical projects
- Compliance projects - asbestos, water, fire safety, lifts, gas and electric
- Fleet and vehicles
- Some highways and waste
- Consultancy requirements e.g. structural engineers, principal designers etc
- There is also a managed stores contract

This role demands experience of contract management, preferably within the public sector in the key areas highlighted above together with the ability to collaborate across various stakeholders, partners and suppliers/contractors to ensure that our contracts continue to meet our budgets, risk management processes, statutory responsibilities, key performance indicators, social value initiatives and wider council priorities.

Given this is a new role you will be required to assist the Contracts Manager in the development of a contract management process for the team so that there is a consistent approach across the service area to meet service quality, financial and compliance objectives.

Knowledge and familiarity with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 will be necessary given there are contractual obligations within the new 2023 act that will require compliance.

Familiarity of the JCT and NEC suite of contracts would also be advantageous as well as the ability to review prices that may have been submitted against the NHF Schedule of Rates.

This is a busy operational service focussed environment. A high level of personal organisation, target focus and attention to detail is required with an ability to complete reports and other tasks within agreed timelines.
- The ability to travel throughout the Borough will be required. _
- The team operates a hybrid working model, you will be in the office for a minimum of two days per week, which may increase due to business needs. _
- You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”)._

**Your next package**

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

**Your next steps