Contracts Manager

See compensation detail in our 'What We Offer' section below. 

We’re the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of canals and rivers. Our waterways contribute to the health and wellbeing of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the strategic and local green-blue infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats.

Our waterways are on the doorstep of 8 million people and reach some of the most deprived communities within the UK. By caring for our waterways and promoting their use we believe we can improve the wellbeing of our nation.  Come and be part of it. 

Our Contract Manager will directly manage operational contracts across the Wales & South West Region, being integral in ensuring that service contracts are delivered to the highest possible standard with regarding to value, quality, safety & time.  The role holder represents the Trust in negotiations and managing relationships with the contractor’s and internal & external stakeholders.

Location & coverage

Our Contract Manager will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working a collaborative meetings. Regular travel across Wales & South West Region & our Gloucester hub location.

The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage. 

See our canal network here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network). 

Key accountabilities: 

• Maintain a culture of incident and injury free by demonstrating clear leadership to ensure all tasks, projects and work programmes are planned and delivered safely and in line with Trust requirements.
• Provide programme and contract management support and direction to all those in the Trust involved with contracts whatever their funding source.
• Maintain and implement communication processes to assess and monitor programme delivery customer impacts.
• Support the Framework Contract Managers to manage the programme (by contract) budgets whilst maintaining communications with stakeholders at local levels to satisfy their differing needs.
• Maintain locally, effective programme and contract performance and output monitoring and reporting to ensure planned objectives are met.
• Provide contract administration advice and support to internal stakeholders on all aspects of the contract(s) to ensure compliance (e.g. NEC TSC).
• At completion stage review and feedback contract and programme performance to Contract Team manager to improve future performance.
• Agreement of task/package order pricing and Compensation Events to delegated levels.
• Dispute resolution within agreed limits and escalation where appropriate with required levels of detail.
• Work safely ensuring the safety of others and contribute to safe working in all activities.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times. 

About you

Technical: 

• Degree or equivalent in related discipline plus chartered/associate membership of an appropriate professional body (or actively working towards).
• NEC3 Accredited Project/Service Manager Status (or actively working towards).

• Proven experience of successfully managing multiple medium complexity projects, contracts or programmes of work within the relevant discipline/sector (e.g. construction, facilities management, vegetation management, waste

  management, asset management).

• Demonstrable experience of defining and managing large contract delivery programmes gained in a complex business environment.
• Experience gathering and influencing the work of remotely manged teams.

General: 

• Proven negotiation skills, commercial & financial awareness with strong organisational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling the building of collaborative relationships across the Trust and with contractors and external stakeholders.
• Proven history of exercising sound commercial and technical judgement in complex issues.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses.
• Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate.
• Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task.
• Consider your own and others behaviour.

To apply:  click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV.

In addition to your annual base salary of £39,588 (depending on experience), we also offer a Car Cash Allowance (£425 per month) competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits we are also open to flexible working arrangements. These include:

• 25 days paid holiday, plus paid Bank Holidays, increasing to 27 days plus Bank Holidays after 3 years
• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available if a need to work outside of home – flexibility. 
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity – hobbies; aspirations etc. 
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters. 
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme. 
• 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us