3x Contract Managers - Panel Services Management

Job summary

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters. Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas. GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law. This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

The Panel Services Management (PSM) Team is part of the Legal Delivery Division that sits within GLD’s Legal Operations Directorate. Our Division is core to the future effectiveness of GLD’s legal work and through our commitment to excellence and innovation we are focussed on supporting GLD to achieve its vision of being an outstanding legal organisation for the future, and playing a crucial role in helping GLD deliver its efficiency ambitions.

The Panel Services Management Team is on the side of the Legal Delivery Division that supports our lawyers in using external legal resource. We help them procure and manage the contracts that our legal teams need with private sector law firms to supplement the work of GLD across its commercial, employment, advisory and litigation divisions.

The PSM Team perform two key functions to support GLD in its use of these strategic suppliers:

Relationship management at panel level

• Acting as the key liaison point between GLD, client Departments and firms on the Government Commercial Agency’s Legal Panel for Government (RM6360) to facilitate engagement to improve delivery of government objectives and increase mutual value. beyond originally contracted

Call off contract management

• Setting up and ongoing management of call off contracts under these panels

Members of the team support Departments in sourcing the correct law firm for each project and manage legal contracts for key departmental priorities and high-profile litigation, working alongside our lawyers to ensure that excellent legal services are provided by our firms as and when they are needed. Both elements of the PSM team work closely together to deliver a professional service to our GLD lawyers and their client Departments to allow them to focus on their legal work and ensure that the panel and the call offs are managed in line with best practice in procurement and contract management.

We support teams from all GLD offices and individuals may be based in any of these offices, and all work flexibly. The team is critical in ensuring that GLD and Government uses the LPfG panel and firms compliantly, effectively and appropriately.

The Role

We are recruiting a contract manager to lead on working with lawyers across GLD to help them procure and manage contracts with panel law firms for a wide range of legal work including high profile and sensitive legal matters. You’ll help design and manage their procurement of law firms, ensure these and the resulting contracts comply with the correct governance procedures and you will lead on effective contract management.

We are seeking applications from individuals with an interest in progressing a career in contract management and procurement. We are looking for confident proactive team players, with the ability to prioritise their workload and plan ahead to be able to deliver a good quality service at pace.

The successful candidate should be able to communicate confidently and effectively with a wide range of senior stakeholders and build strong professional relationships.

Key responsibilities:

• Assisting GLD teams to plan and develop pipelines of work suitable for outsourcing to panel law firms to support the teams’ delivery of their legal workload in a cost effective and strategic way
• Acting as the single point of contact for your key clients providing expertise and advice on any matters relating to using panel law firms, ensuring that you understand their portfolio of work, and lead on delivery of the work for them
• Identify and manage risks and issues in the portfolio, establish appropriate and timely mitigations
• Working alongside GLD lawyers and their clients to establish business cases to use a panel law firm, ensuring that budgets and contracts has been established before the firm starts working on the project, and drafting contractual documents that fit with the customers needs based on agreed templates and guidance
• Advising on new procurement processes through the LPfG or other Government Commercial Agency panels based on available guidance and knowledge of the panel within the PSM team
• Establishing and maintaining contract management processes and good working relationships with key people within the law firms to ensure external legal contracts are managed effectively, in line with GCF best practice
• Keeping management information trackers up to date and analysing available information and provide reports as required to assist GLD departments government departments to inform their decisions about using the panel
• Actively providing training and advice to GLD wider colleagues to support them in using the law firms. This may include presenting to groups, supporting individuals, as well as supporting the production of internal guidance and training collateral as required
• Supporting and line managing Contract Officer(s) (EO Grade) in their work in ensuring purchase orders and invoices are approved or queried in a timely and efficient manner
• Developing, sharing and implementing best practice, and taking responsibility for continuous improvement of the PSM team
• Being proactive in forward planning & its importance for managing your area

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 4:00pm-5:00pm on Tuesday 12th May 2026

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from the vacancy holder about the team and the roles available. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role.

If you are interested in further information on this role please join the link below:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/321612627229306?p=UhIlnAnQRep41sNhqk

Meeting ID: 321 612 627 229 306

Passcode: dm7Wk7Bf

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service – Lead Behaviour
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

Key Skills and Experience

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with external and/or senior stakeholders
• Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal), with ability to lead on active and reactive communication
• Ability to analyse written and verbal information provided and decide appropriate action as a result
• Experience of managing contracts with external suppliers and/or budgets
• Ability to prioritise competing tasks to balance completing urgent tasks and routine tasks within deadlines
• Ability to manage own workload and work on own initiative with tight and challenging deadlines
• Experience of working within a team and providing support to a team
• Good working knowledge of using Microsoft packages Word, Teams, Excel and Outlook

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. In addition to this, those based in our London offices must hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance for this role. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your appointment will be conditional upon obtaining CTC clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

Visa sponsorship will not be given to candidates except where they are existing civil servants employed by GLD, who meet the HO/UKVI requirements for sponsorship. If you are an existing civil servant employed by GLD who requires sponsorship, you should confirm your eligibility for sponsorship for this role.

Candidates with Limited Leave to Remain, must have at least 12 months remaining on an existing visa which allows them to work for GLD, at the point they start working at GLD. Please allow three months for the onboarding process from the point of offer.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,647, Government Legal Department contributes £10,037 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

Cross-Functional Professional

We support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.

There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

• Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
• Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
• Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.
• Apprenticeships - We have a range of apprenticeships on offer across all professions with the opportunity for all employees to explore a profession specific apprenticeship to support their development in role.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is 12:00 Midday Monday 18th May 2026

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities experience and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess Key Skills and Experience as set out in the Person Specification slide,as a first stage sift.
• Personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining how you meet the Key Skills and Experience.
• Provide an example in no more than 250 words for the following behaviour against the essential criteria: Managing a quality service

In addition to this please note the use of AI is strictly prohibited during tests, written exercises and interviews.

Civil Service Tests Online

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete two Civil Service Online tests: a Civil Service Judgement Test and a Civil Service Work Strengths Test Test. You can find out more information and guidance on the tests, including options to take practice tests.

There will be maintenance for online tests on Sunday 10th May 2026. This means you will be unable to access the online tests between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm. Your progress will be saved, and you will be able to continue once the tests are available again.

If you are unsuccessful in passing these tests you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass both tests, you will then automatically progress to the next stage of completing the full application.

We suggest you allow enough time to complete the full application online, prior to the closing date and time, 18th May 2026at 12:00 Midday as once the application is closed you will no longer have access to the ability tests and the application.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk . Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and key skills and experience outlined in the person specification.

STAGED-SIFT :If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, you will then progress to the full sift on your personal statement and behaviour example.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, alongside behaviour and strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Managing a Quality Service – Lead Behaviour
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

At interview you will be asked to deliver a 5 minute presentation based on the following scenario :

‘How would you approach taking on contract management within an adaptive environment with various stakeholders, with differing requirements and needs.’

The presentation will assess the behaviour: Communicating and Influencing

Your interview will take place online.

Offer

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list. We may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Alexander Wate
• Email : alexander.wate@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Further information

You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

3x Contract Managers - Panel Services Management Opens in new window (pdf, 591kB)