Senior Contract Manager - Learning Category

Job summary

The Cabinet Office operates at the heart of the UK Government, responsible for ensuring the effective running of government, maintaining control over public spending and working to achieve strong and sustainable growth for the UK.

The Cabinet Office Commercial team has a vision to be a top performing commercial function in government, setting best practices for others to follow. It offers a unique challenge to professionals, working in partnership with all areas of the business to provide a full commercial service that covers planning, commercial strategy, sourcing and contract management.

The Commercial team operates with our core values in mind; we are Curious, Collaborative and Kind, we act with Integrity and are Focused on value for money.

The Learning Category team, working closely with other commercial teams and the central Government Skills team (who are the business owners of civil service Learning & Development), provides a full range of L&D-related commercial services and support to Government Skills and the wider Cabinet Office.

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Contract Manager (there are two within the Learning Category team) to be responsible for the direct contract management of major cross-government learning contracts, which support the development of civil servants. This is a hands-on role that also offers the opportunity to grow and develop as the L&D provision enters a key stage of strategic change.

The role is to provide an effective contract and relationship management service focusing on the central cross-government L&D provision, which is currently delivered via prime supplier contracts that also utilise significant supply chains.

Given the nature, importance and complexity of the role, you will be required and supported to undertake relevant Government Commercial Function (GCF) contract management training and to successfully achieve ‘Expert’ accreditation.

Key responsibilities include:

Effective Contract Management, including managing and leading supplier monthly contract review meetings to ensure that contracts are effectively managed, with appropriate reporting to management including reporting of contract performance indicators, analysis of performance data and applying appropriate measures to correct performance or non-compliance and budget/spend management;

• Responsible for updating and maintaining the contract management plan including ensuring all stakeholders manage their obligations under the contract, including areas such as risk management, business continuity and adhering to commercial good practice;
• Maintain financial oversight for specific suppliers;
• Provide insight and information to the relevant steering boards, so that the service is managed holistically, ensuring the customer is at the heart of all decision making;
• Supporting on the commercial activities such as for contract variations ,supporting the drafting of governance paperwork, and identifying any commercial activity for inclusion on the pipeline;
• Leading on the recording of, and managing the delivery, of actions from important contract management and commercial meetings. Record keeping of contractual documentation and within contract management systems;
• Supporting contract exit, transition and mobilisation;
• Providing knowledge and information from the contract management role to support the development of the future operating model for the delivery of L&D.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience in a commercial and/or contract management role where you have applied effective analytical skills, good problem-solving and strong negotiation skills;
• Effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with demonstrable experience of applying these both with internal and external stakeholders;
• Understanding of commercial governance and approvals processes;
• Experience of managing the delivery of multiple activities in parallel within a fast-paced environment with limited oversight;
• To complete GCF Contract Management Standards Expert level training and assessment;
• Strong IT skills - Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint;
• Proactive and forward thinking.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,760, Cabinet Office contributes £12,677 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 and Experience.

Application process

Please submit a CV and 500 word Personal Statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applicants should submit a CV and write their personal statement by giving examples of how their experience to date meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the the personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Selection process

Civil Service Behaviours will be tested at interview. There will be a short exercise within the interview to test the contract management abilities of the candidate.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 27 April
Expected interview date/s – w/c 4 May
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : COHMT Commercial
• Email : cohmtcommercial@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)