Interim Senior Contracts Manager
Location: Cambridge, CB4 0DN
Working Type - contract role till December 2026.
Responsibilities
1. Lead the strategic management and performance assurance of major operational, maintenance, compliance, and commercial contracts.
2. Develop and implement commercial and commissioning strategies aligned with service delivery and financial sustainability objectives.
3. Manage complex contract negotiations, extensions, variations, renewals, and dispute resolution activities.
4. Establish and maintain robust contract governance and assurance frameworks across City Services.
5. Monitor supplier performance against KPIs, service standards, statutory requirements, and contractual obligations.
6. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, corrective action plans, and service enhancement programmes.
7. Ensure value for money across commissioned services through commercial reviews, efficiency savings, and service redesign.
8. Lead budget monitoring, financial forecasting, commercial risk management, and mitigation activities.
9. Manage, develop, and motivate a multidisciplinary contract management team of approximately 12 FTE.
10. Provide expert commercial advice and assurance reporting to senior management, elected Members, contractors, regulators, and external stakeholders.
Essential Skills
11. Extensive experience managing high-value, high-risk contracts within complex organisations.
12. Expert knowledge of contract management, supplier performance management, and contract assurance frameworks.
13. Strong understanding of public sector procurement legislation, governance, and compliance requirements.
14. Proven commercial acumen with experience delivering value for money and cost-saving initiatives.
15. Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
16. Strong leadership and people management capabilities with experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
17. Ability to analyse complex data, identify risks, and make evidence-based decisions.
18. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including reporting to senior executives and stakeholders.
19. Strong governance, audit, risk management, and compliance management expertise.
20. Advanced ICT proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, financial analysis, reporting, and data management tools.