Base salary:£67,450pa to c.£92,982padepending on skills and experience. In addition, we offerflexible benefits fund of 20% which is paid on top base salaryand is fully pensionable, as well as a range of competitive benefits - check them out in the Benefits section on our website.
HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.
The Contract Management Lead will provide strategic direction and be accountable for the Corporate Contract Management team and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the HS2 Commercial directorate. The Corporate Contact Management Lead must deliver significant benefits to HS2 through the proactive management of around 200 contracts whilst mitigating the associated supply chain risks, driving value for money and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
About the role
* Develop and lead a team (direct and indirect reports) to deliver effective contract management across the corporate portfolio driving value for money in the Supplier contracts and in the associated management activity.
* Through an effective regime of supplier performance management, ensure delivery of the benefits stated in the HS2 approval granted at the time of contract award and seeking to enhance these while reducing risk to HS2 as a whole.
* Ensure the achievement of governance approval and assurance of all contract management documentation to agreed timelines adopting a ‘right first time’ approach which minimises any rework resulting from assurance activities.
* Lead the professional development of the Contract Management team identifying development needs and supporting achievement of those within defined timescales.
* Lead the identification and implementation of continuous improvement initiatives creating a culture of innovation and efficiency to enhance levels of service, minimise costs, ensure compliance and safeguard the organisation from contractual and commercial risk.
* Ensuring adherence to the allocated budget for delivering Corporate Contract Management within HS2.
* To act as a Subject Matter Expert in relation to Contract Management best practice and to ensure effective communication / dissemination of approaches across the CM community in HS2 and to work with the Corporate Procurement Lead to investigate (and implement if appropriate) a Category Strategy for Corporate Operations.
* Lead the development of positive relationships with HS2 Directors/Senior Managers, internal and external stakeholders (DfT, CCS, Cabinet Office ERG etc) to raise awareness of the criticality of effective Contract Management and how this supports achievement of the organisations key objectives and core values.
* To support the HS2 business planning process and provide a robust audit trail in relation to all resources requested to provide Contract Management across the corporate portfolio.
* To contribute fully to the commercial governance of HS2 developing, reviewing and presenting proposed business cases as required and exercising delegated approval authorities in accordance with HS2 policies.
* Ensuring there are effective and proportionate processes and procedures for the identification, assessment and mitigation of commercial risk both within the Corporate Contract Management community and across the corporate supply chain. Ensuring risks requiring further consideration within HS2 are highlighted and communicated in a timely manner.
* Ensure all records relating to Corporate Contract Management are stored securely, can be accessed easily and are retained as required by legislative and internal HS2 policies.
* Support the Procurement Operations Director in the development of the wider Procurement Operations Team.
* Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.
About you
Skills
* Ability to establish and clearly communicate a Contract Management strategy consistent with the values and key objectives of HS2, the Development Agreement and the HS2 Commercial Strategy.
* Ability to continually develop and refresh delivery model to enhance service delivery and cost effectiveness of the Contract Management function.
* The ability to manage multiple contract management work streams simultaneously and effectively.
* Ability to prioritise activity within a dynamic working environment while sustaining progress towards a defined delivery strategy.
* Internal and external stakeholder engagement skills, cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
* Report writing and reviewing, presenting, commercial analysis, influencing and negotiation skills.
* Ability to tailor communication to a range of stakeholders at all levels in the organisation creating a compelling case for change or delivery approach.
* Ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation delivering value for money and benefits realisation within the contract management function and across the corporate contract portfolio.
* Drives collaboration across the HS2 organisation and attendant supply chain.
Knowledge
* Member of CIPS, International Association for Contract and Commercial Management or equivalent.
* Understanding of Contract Management techniques for indirect services in the public / utilities sectors.
* Awareness of government initiatives and policies with ability to assess relevancy and defend applicability.
* Knowledge of the Public Contract Regulations / Utilities Contract Regulations / NEC form of contracts.
Type of experience
* Experience of contract management across a diverse portfolio driving performance and value for money to a public sector organisation.
* Experience of leading teams, managing/coaching staff in their career development and proven ability to drive excellence in staff and suppliers.
* Experience of working with or for publicly funded bodies including central government departments and a working knowledge of the role of GCF, CCS, ERG in managing public money.
* Experience in assessing the impact of contract variations on whole life cost, benefits realisation, as well as risk profile, to the Client organisation.
* Experience in the development and implementation of contract segmentation and the definition of resulting action plans.
* Experience in defining and management of benefits realisation within a public sector environment.
* Experience of defining category strategies for indirect spend and of application of a range of taxonomies.
* Experience of developing and implementing contract management processes including good practice guidelines, templates etc.
The post-holder is expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect. It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.
As HS2 Ltd do not hold a sponsorship license from the Home Office, we are not able to provide sponsorship to any applicant.Applicants must already have the Right to Work in the UK at the time of application and our process involves a Right to Work validation prior to the interview stage. Note, there are certain types of time-bound visas that we cannot accept. Any offers made to applicants will be subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks which include Nationality & Immigration Status, employment references, DBS, Financial and Education checks.
We ask for a variety of detail in your online application, however we perform the first assessment of suitability for a role based solely on the information in your CV. In a further development of our efforts to create a more diverse workforce, your CV will be anonymised and personal information will be removed during the first stage of the application review. This removes bias from the process and makes it even more important that you attach an updated word version of your CV for each new application ensuring you include evidence directly related to the criteria in the job advert. Watch this video on how we remove bias in the recruitment process:Removing bias in the recruitment process - YouTube
Any applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
About Us
High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.
HS2 Ltd will create a skills legacy and develop a diverse range of talent. We aim to be a leader in EDI practice by creating a safe & inclusive working environment for all our staff - living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership.
In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.
HS2 Ltd is also a safety-critical organisation. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others’ health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to our ‘Safe at Heart’ programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.
HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential.
Job Info
* Job Identification 250730
* Job Category Commercial Management
* Posting Date 01/07/2026, 02:37 PM
* Apply Before 01/21/2026, 11:59 PM
* Job Schedule Full time
* Locations 2 Snowhill, Birmingham, B4 6GA, GB
* Permanent or Fixed Term Contract Permanent
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