Contract and Compliance Officer

West Midlands Combined Authority; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Healthcare plans

EV car benefit scheme

Costco membership

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking a Contract and Compliance Officer to protect the quality and effectiveness of WMCA’s commissioned services. You will monitor contract performance, support compliance with legislation, and work with providers to address issues and drive improvement.

Based in Birmingham, the role requires strong contract management, data reporting, and the ability to explain complex rules to non-specialists.

Qualifications

• Experience of managing contracts and ensuring compliance with governing body or public sector standards and regulations.
• Experience developing SMART action plans and monitoring progress.
• Experience collaborating with internal teams and external organisations to improve services.

Responsibilities

• Support the monitoring and maintenance of best practice contract management across WMCA.
• Monitor service-related issues through agreed processes and reporting systems.
• Recommend improvements to support service quality and compliance.
• Provide advice to ensure commissioned services meet required quality standards.
• Support compliance with UK contracting regulations and procurement legislation.
• Ensure quality and contract compliance in line with legislation, guidance and practice standards.
• Work with Contract Managers to manage complex contract situations, including potential suspension or termination.
• Produce reports on monitoring activity and present information to stakeholders.
• Support action where a service is not achieving expected standards and track corrective action.

Skills

Contract management

Compliance

Report writing

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering ambitious plans for the region, working with partners and providers to support better services, stronger places and improved outcomes for our communities. To do that well, we need to make sure the services we commission are high quality, compliant, well managed and continuously improving.

As Contract and Compliance Officer, you will help protect the quality and effectiveness of WMCA's commissioned services by monitoring contract performance, supporting compliance with relevant legislation and guidance, and working with colleagues and providers to address issues and drive improvement. Your work will help ensure services are delivered to the right standards, risks are managed properly, and public money is used responsibly.

What you'll be doing.

• Support the monitoring and maintenance of best practice contract management across WMCA.
• Monitor service-related issues through agreed processes and reporting systems.
• Recommend improvements to support service quality and compliance.
• Provide advice and support to ensure commissioned services meet required quality standards.
• Support compliance with UK contracting regulations, including relevant procurement legislation.
• Ensure quality and contract compliance in line with legislation, regulation, guidance and practice standards.
• Support the commissioning of quality services to meet performance measures and external inspection requirements.
• Work with Contract Managers to manage complex contract situations, including potential suspension or termination.
• Support negotiations with providers and organisations to achieve satisfactory solutions.
• Participate in the development of the Contract and Compliance team and contribute to service improvement.
• Work with services to facilitate meetings, workshops and learning sessions.
• Attend meetings with colleagues, providers and other agencies as required.
• Report regularly to senior management at quality assurance meetings.
• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues and providers on procurement and contract compliance matters.
• Manage your allocated workload within agreed schedules and work plans.
• Produce reports on monitoring activity.
• Produce and present information relating to monitoring, contract and compliance activity and outcomes.
• Support action where a service is not achieving expected standards, including deep dives, audit feedback and tracking corrective action.
• Support Contract Managers to ensure providers understand improvement requirements, deadlines and potential penalties for non-compliance.
• Work with colleagues and other agencies to monitor outcomes and support quality service delivery.
• Collate data and information from providers and other sources to support quality and contract monitoring.

What's essential.

• Experience of managing contracts and ensuring compliance with governing body or public sector standards and regulations.
• Experience of developing and delivering SMART action plans and monitoring progress.
• Experience working effectively in partnership with other organisations and agencies.
• Experience collaborating with internal teams to develop and improve services.
• Experience collating a range of data and information and presenting it clearly and concisely.
• Knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks, including PCR2015 and PA2023.
• Ability to understand complex technical or legislative information and explain it clearly to non-specialist colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Office.
• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

There may be a requirement to work outside normal office hours on occasion, including working within stakeholder and partner offices within the WMCA constituent area on a regular basis.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributionscheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing,andmortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costcomembership through the WMCA.
• Boundlessunlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• EyeCare Scheme,offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters, your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative -We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven -We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with Leader' status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).