Accountable to a designated Senior Contract Manager (SCM) the CSO will support efficient and effective contract management, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, within their area. The post holder will also support the work of their local contract management team and Operational and System Assurance Group to quality assure and audit operational service delivery and deliver the Annual Service Operational Audit Plan. It is an offender facing role in terms of working with service users to ascertain their views on the services received. The post holder will contribute to the support of a portfolio of contracts within the PS regions, including Commissioned Rehabilitative Service contracts, and it involves complex stakeholder and delivery chain relationships. The CSO is a support role with administrative, secretariat and data handling and analysis responsibilities. Overall, the post contributes to the support of the contract management team with their remit to monitor and validate provider performance, assure delivery of services in the community and manage the relevant contracts. Working alongside the Senior Contract Manager and Service Manager (SM), the CSO will support the delivery of the contract management governance processes in relation to designated providers.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide secretariat support to Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers, including Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, and Change Management Board.
o Arrange and distribute agenda and papers with direction from the relevant chair.
o Produce first draft minutes and action logs.
o Maintain formal documentation, Terms of Reference, membership and distribution lists.
o Follow-up with action owners for updates.
o File, archive and enact version control on all relevant documentation.
* Support local contract management team and OSAG to deliver the annual assurance activities, including operational audit and analysis of provider delivery data.
* Review and monitor performance data in relation to designated providers.
* Support Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers in the delivery of ongoing contract management activities with providers (e.g., following-up requests for information from Commissioned Rehabilitative Providers, scheduling of ad hoc meetings).
* Conduct research and analysis activities as required by team managers (e.g., review of stakeholder surveys and opinions, analysis of MI trends and issues, development of ‘good practice’ case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring the provision of third‑party commissioned services).
* Support the National Strategic Contract Management team and national supplier level management through liaison, consultation, information sharing and acting on guidance to ensure consistency.
* Provide information to Director/ MoJ and others as required.
* Ensure changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.
Qualifications and Experience
* Good understanding of HMPPS strategic direction.
* Good level of confidence sufficient to allow post holder to represent the organisation in a professional manner to a range of stakeholders.
* Sound skills to enable management of effective relationships in a contractual and political environment.
* Sound knowledge of Project and Programme management techniques.
* Sound attributes to prioritise the management of tasks and risks and with appropriate support, advice and guidance deliver tasks to time.
* Sound problem solving, planning and communication skills.
* Strong numerical and IT skills with strong presentation skills (written and verbal).
* Strong attention to detail.
* Strong networking capabilities enabling the development of productive working relationships across organisational boundaries and across all levels of an organisation.
* Working knowledge of public, private, social enterprise, charitable, voluntary and community sector organisations.
* Strong analytical skills and research and evaluation skills to make informed judgements on concern and gaps in provision.
* Sound ability to work in a dispersed team and be a self-motivator with the capacity to organise and prioritise on the basis of organisational reputation/ financial risk.
* Strong Business support and/or secretariat experience.
* Experience of co‑ordinating, organising, reviewing and taking minutes of high level meetings in a politically sensitive environment involving a wide range of senior representatives.
* Strong commitment to valuing and promoting diversity as the vehicle for achieving successful business outcomes.
* Strong commitment to excellence within a changing landscape with the ability to innovate and adapt working style.
* Good ability to maintain professional integrity and adherence to organisational priorities in the face of competing pressures.
Technical Requirements
* No specific qualifications are essential but experience and qualifications relevant to contract support and contract management are desirable.
* Psychometric tests will not be required to assess the ability of post holders.
Benefits
* Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 after five years plus public holidays. Leave for part‑time posts is pro‑rated.
* Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Current Civil Servants who accept an offer are auto enrolled into LGPS.
* Training: The Ministry of Justice offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
* Networks: Opportunity to join employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTQ+ etc.
* Eligibility: All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to starting.
* Family Friendly: Policies to support reduced hours or job share.
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