Head of Contracts & Supplier Management (IT & Telecoms)
Milton Keynes, GB
IS Contract & Supplier Management (IT) (807555) G1
Network Rail – where people and connections matter. We keep passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. Every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We offer excellent benefits, including:
* Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days) with option to buy/sell days.
* Defined benefit pension scheme.
* 75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.
* Up to 75% off leisure travel.
* Interest‑free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
* Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
* Flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
* Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.
* HealthCare scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.
* Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
Brief Description
Technology continues to transform the railway industry. As part of the DDaT directorate you enable our customers and industry partners with modern and transformative technology. From day‑to‑day IT operations that keeps a national railway running, to extensive delivery programmes that reshape the railway, we are at the forefront.
What will you be doing?
* Establish and set strategic direction of “project” and “post” contract management in life services, including supporting negotiation of complex contractual and managed services agreements to maximise value for the IT & Telecoms function.
* Lead a team to advise and support development and monitoring of contracts and agreements (pre/post contract to enable delivery of business solutions/services and operations).
* Lead and manage supplier management process and team, engaging with suppliers and partners to enable and maintain adherence to contract terms, conditions, scope, financial governance, and compliance.
* Control and advise on in‑life contractual service performance and cost exposure, resolving any issues across complex service delivery programmes to manage risk, cost avoidance and delivery against efficiency targets.
* Lead teams across IT & Telecoms to manage the development of third‑party contracts whilst ensuring governance process adherence, advising project teams accordingly.
* Lead on optimisation of third‑party performance through measures and KPIs, costs and efficiency through relationship management and contract negotiations.
* Lead and manage interface with internal stakeholders, Contracts & Procurement (Route Services) and legal services to optimise accountabilities and outcomes in a timely fashion.
* Lead, inspire and motivate a high performing team, developing individual capability linked to organisational requirements to enable strategic goals.
* Maintain a register of contracts and best practice process to contract renewals and negotiations that captures and validates ongoing requirements in a timely fashion.
* Develop and maintain financial/cost models (TCO/ROI) to assess and monitor total cost of third‑party commercial commitments, optimising costs through efficiencies, budgeting and financial governance.
* Provide consultancy and advisory support for high‑profile work package / statement of work contracts to support the function to deliver against the strategic plan, proactively challenging funded or customer funded business cases and managing financial risk.
Meet the essential criteria
* Extensive experience in a senior in‑life contracting and supplier management and senior leadership roles.
* Strong leadership, excellent communication and conflict management skills, business acumen with strong commercial focus and financially astute, profit & loss management experience and previous experience of advising at a leadership board.
* Extensive experience of contract negotiations, preferably in telecoms or IT services industry and public sector.
* Extensive knowledge of Contract and supplier Management including licensing, carrier, and subscription management.
* Able to understand and extract salient information from complex documentation.
* Knowledge of key service performance measures and practical experience of using these to drive supplier performance improvement.
* Able to drive, motivate and develop a team.
* Commercially and politically aware.
* Influential communicator with excellent persuasion and negotiation skills.
* Energetic and passionate about developing and operating processes that achieve outstanding results.
Desirable
* ITIL certification or IT service management experience.
* Educated to degree level or equivalent.
* Knowledge of public procurement / regulated industry policies and procedures (e.g. Official Journal of the EU – OJEU).
How To Apply
You will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria, please complete this as part of the application process and add this to your CV in one document. Applicants who do not complete this statement will not be shortlisted.
Vacancy type
Permanent role, 35 hours per week, hybrid working of 60% in the office.
Location
Quadrant Milton Keynes, Manchester Square One, London Enterprise House
Closing date
2nd November 2025
Band & Salary
Band 2B £71,163 – £84,437
EEO Statement
We are committed to a diverse workplace enriched with representation from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and skills. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where difference is embraced, and individuals can thrive. We recognise that the success of the team is dependent on a multi‑cultural, multi‑disciplined group of individuals, aligned to deliver successful solutions.
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Legal
Industries
Rail Transportation
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