Contract and Change Manager

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

DEFRA seeks a Contract and Change Manager to support the Head of Contracts, Change and Improvements in managing shared services contracts across Defra Group. You will lead contract governance, supplier engagement, and change management, coordinating RFCs, audits and governance across organisational boundaries.

You will provide expert advice on contractual matters, manage risks and dependencies, and help align business requirements with strategic priorities and transformation initiatives.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in contract management within complex organisations.
• Deep knowledge of contract governance, RFC processes and supplier management.
• Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional governance and strategic changes.

Responsibilities

• Uphold and enhance contract management across shared services agreements with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Lead management of contractual change, coordinating RFC processes and ensuring alignment to business needs.
• Utilise governance and supplier management principles to support decision-making in a multi-customer environment.
• Coordinate contract audit and assurance activities and oversee actions arising from findings.
• Collaborate with Group Corporate Services, Defra ALBs and process owners to reflect evolving requirements in contracts.
• Provide expert guidance on contractual and governance issues, and manage risks and opportunities from policy shifts.

Skills

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Change management

Governance

Supplier relationship management

Risk management

Leadership

Job description

Defra Group receives a diverse range of shared services through the Government Shared Services Framework, delivered through outsourced providers and supporting critical business services across Defra Group. Operating within a complex landscape of contractual arrangements, stakeholders and governance structures, the Shared Services team plays a key role in ensuring contractual obligations are effectively managed and future business requirements are supported. As Contract and Change Manager, you will support the Head of Contracts, Change and Improvements in managing key aspects of Defra Group's shared services contractual arrangements. The role has a particular focus on contract governance, supplier engagement, contractual change management, audit and assurance activities, and ensuring contractual obligations are effectively managed across the shared services portfolio. Working closely with suppliers, the Framework Authority, Defra Group organisations and wider government stakeholders, you will lead activity that supports the effective operation and evolution of the shared services contract. You will provide expert advice on contractual matters, coordinate complex change activity, manage contractual risks and dependencies, and help ensure that business requirements, strategic priorities and transformation initiatives are appropriately reflected within contractual arrangements. This is a varied and influential role, requiring strong stakeholder management, commercial awareness and the ability to operate confidently across multiple workstreams, bringing together contractual, governance and strategic considerations to support the successful delivery of Shared Services across Defra Group.

• Uphold and enhance effective contract management across Defra Group's shared services arrangements by establishing and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, the Framework Authority, internal stakeholders and wider government partners. Work across organisational boundaries to understand cross-cutting contractual issues, support their resolution and promote Defra Group's Shared Services strategic objectives.
• Lead the management of contractual change, acting as the focal point for the Request for Change (RFC) process. Work with stakeholders, suppliers and programme teams to assess, negotiate and implement contractual changes, ensuring proposals are effectively governed and aligned to business requirements, contractual obligations and strategic priorities.
• Utilise extensive knowledge of contractual arrangements and supplier management principles within a multi-customer environment to support effective decision-making. Take a leading role in negotiations between stakeholders, suppliers and the Framework Authority, balancing differing priorities and achieving successful contractual outcomes through the application of best practice contract management techniques.
• Lead and coordinate contract audit and assurance activity, working with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure contractual compliance, appropriate governance and effective management of audit findings, recommendations and resulting actions.
• Work collaboratively with Group Corporate Services (GCS) functions, Defra ALBs, departmental representatives and Process Owners to understand emerging business requirements, assess contractual implications and ensure contractual arrangements continue to support organisational objectives and strategic change initiatives.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on contractual, governance and supplier management matters, developing solutions to complex issues within contractual, policy and best practice frameworks.
• Support the Head of Contracts, Change and Improvements in identifying and managing contractual risks, dependencies and opportunities arising from changing business needs, government policy developments and transformation activity, including impacts associated with the Synergy programme.
• Lead, motivate and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and professional culture, supporting recruitment activity and ensuring the team has the capability and resilience required to deliver its objectives.