Lead Contracts Manager

PageUp People Limited; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Melbourne Water is seeking a Lead Contracts Manager to reinforce contract governance across its Service Delivery portfolio in Melbourne. You will oversee complex, high-value contracts, monitor expenditure, assess claims, and manage contractual risk.

Collaborating with business owners, Procurement, Finance, Legal and operations, you will translate contractual data into actionable advice, drive improvements, and report on performance and supplier risks.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex contracts in government or private sector.
• Background in engineering, operations, finance, legal, project management or quantity surveying.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with a proactive, collaborative approach.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee commercial, performance and relationship management of contracts with key Melbourne Water stakeholders.
• Drive best-practice contract management techniques and continuous improvement.
• Develop productive relationships between service providers, suppliers and Melbourne Water.
• Monitor contractual activities to ensure performance, quality and cost outcomes.
• Identify, assess and manage contractual risks with corrective actions.
• Manage end-of-contract activities including extensions, variations, tender support, off-boarding.
• Provide regular reporting on supplier performance including financials and risks.
• Ensure compliance with policies including Local Jobs First, Modern Slavery and Sustainability.

Skills

Contract management

Governance

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in commerce, business, contract management, procurement, finance, law, or engineering

Job description

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life. As caretakers of Melbourne’s water cycle and catchments, we care for water, life, and land across the city. From protecting storages and preparing for floods, to restoring waterways and supporting thriving communities, our work shapes how Melbourne lives.

At the same time, we plan for the future, preparing for climate challenges in a growing city and ensuring it remains resilient for generations to come.

If you want your work to make a real difference, are willing to dive into complex challenges, and believe in doing what is right, you will find your place here.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced contracts professional to take a lead role in strengthening contract governance, commercial performance and operational outcomes across Melbourne Water’s Service Delivery portfolio.

As Lead Contracts Manager, you will oversee a diverse portfolio of complex, high-value and high-risk contracts, supporting their effective management across the post-award contract lifecycle. You will apply strong commercial and financial acumen to monitor expenditure, assess claims and variations, manage contractual risk and ensure contract activities comply with internal policies, legislation and government requirements.

Working closely with business owners, Procurement, Finance, Legal and operational teams, you will analyse contract and performance data, identify emerging risks or non-compliant activity and provide practical advice that supports sound commercial decisions. You will build trusted stakeholder relationships while confidently challenging practices, resolving complex issues and driving accountability where required.

In this role, you will

• Ensure effective commercial, performance and relationship management of contracts while working with key Melbourne Water stakeholders to meet contractual and statutory obligations.
• Drive the implementation of best-practice contract management techniques and processes, are while identifying opportunities for innovation, standardisation and continuous improvement.
• Develop productive and professional relationships between service provider(s), suppliers and Melbourne Water with continuous improvement at the centre.
• Monitor contractual activities and obligations to ensure required performance standards, quality and cost outcomes are achieved.
• Identify, assess and manage contractual risks, ensuring corrective actions are implemented when contract parameters or performance expectations are not being met.
• Manage end of contract activities, including contract extensions, variations, tender support, off-boarding and knowledge transfer.
• Provide regular reporting to contract owners and relevant stakeholders on supplier performance including financials, risks and emerging issues.
• Manage contractor performance of and reporting requirements in relating to government policies, including the Local Jobs First Policy, Social Procurement Framework, Modern Slavery, Sustainability and the Building Equality Policy.

This is an opportunity for a commercially astute contracts professional to make a meaningful contribution to Melbourne Water’s contract performance, governance and service delivery outcomes.

About you:

You will bring significant experience managing complex contracts within government or private industry, ideally supported by a background in engineering, operations, finance, legal, project management or quantity surveying. You combine sound judgement and strong analytical capability with a proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline, such as commerce, business, contract management, procurement, finance, law, engineering, construction management, quantity surveying or project management, or equivalent relevant experience
• Previous experience and expertise within a contracts and governance role is essential.
• Highly developed contract management and commercial skills
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships and partnerships both within and outside the business
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex contractual, commercial and performance information into clear, practical advice for a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of procurement standards, legislation and regulatory authorities.
• Expertise in complex contract negotiations and resolving of contractual issues.
• Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with key service providers and contractors.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen skills to control, budget and forecast. expenditure.
• Experience with contract management in operational environments is preferred.
• A demonstrated ability to identify and implement initiatives that generate safer workplaces for Melbourne Water personnel and contractors.

At Melbourne Water, we care deeply about water and the life it sustains.

Our team is inspired by passion and purpose, with an unwavering commitment to safety. We are on a mission to protect every Melburnian’s way of life, one drop at a time.

We do not just talk about flexible working - we live it. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning flows through everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, Neurodivergent Individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.

If you’re curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and enthusiastic about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit.