Contract Delivery Manager

Ministry of Justice; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Aylesbury is seeking a PECS Contract Delivery Manager responsible for overseeing the efficient delivery of the PECS escort contract. The role involves maintaining stakeholder relationships, managing contract compliance, and operational duties across courts, prisons, and police stations. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with various stakeholders are essential.

Benefits

Public sector pension scheme

Annual leave entitlements

Hybrid working available

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Written and spoken English.
• Experience of managing large scale commercial contracts.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and manage regional partner and stakeholder relations.
• Create regional focus to delivery on contracts.
• Conduct audit programmes and analysis as directed.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Numerical skills

Experience managing large scale commercial contracts

Experience with audit and assurance processes

Job description

The purpose of a PECS Contract Delivery Manager (CDM) is to ensure the efficient and contractually compliant delivery of the PECS escort contract within their respective areas by the private providers. In doing so they are required to work collaboratively with other key stakeholders in the delivery process such as HMCTS, prisons, the YJB, the Police, and PMU. The job sits within PECS which is part of Custodial Contracts Directorate. Although part of an HQ group the post itself is regionally based as the post holder is required to visit courts, prisons, police stations etc on a daily basis to assess the delivery of the contracted service provided. The post does not have any direct line management responsibilities. Although operational experience in a prison is advantageous it is not an essential requirement for the role. The post does however attract RHA due to the requirement to cover on call arrangements during evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and manage regional partner and stakeholder relations
  • Recognise and respect partner and stakeholder groups, their interests, objectives, needs and nature.
  • Manage the accountability of PECS to these groups, and agree strategic objectives and targets.
  • Act as facilitator for all Criminal Justice Agencies, providing them with an avenue for collaboration about matters that impact upon delivery of the perfect day, or their ability to meet their own targets.
• Create regional focus to delivery on contracts
  • Facilitate decision making and reflect mistakes as learning opportunities.
  • Mentor partners and embed key skills and values in all partners.
  • Help partners identify what is and what is not possible in the current environment.
  • Remind partners that they need to adapt and work with any challenges or changes in the operating environment, regardless from which direction they come.
  • Create clarity within partnership discussions, convene and facilitate interaction between partners with diverse and differing drivers.
• Operational duties
  • Undertake investigations at the request of the Senior Contract Delivery Manager as per the 1991 Criminal Justice Act.
  • Co‑ordinate Operation Tornado and other serious incidents as and when required (24 hour cover).
  • Identify procedures and agreement for use of police cells (Operation Safeguard).
  • Visit courts, prisons and police cells to monitor contract delivery and assess the treatment of prisoners, including requiring remedial action where necessary.
  • Conduct audit programmes and analysis as directed.
  • Ensure that reporting mechanisms are in place and working effectively, including quality assurance of provider data as necessary.
  • Mediate in disputes/mitigation at a local level.
• Develop strong working links and encourage efficient and effective joint working across the region
  • Attend local meetings such as Crown and Magistrates Court User Group meetings as necessary.
  • Work reciprocally to develop and achieve mutually agreed visions and outcomes.
  • Participate in multi‑agency, co‑ordinated planning processes.
  • Prepare and circulate agendas, minutes and newsletters etc, highlighting key tasks and implications for the organisation.
  • Maintain formal and informal communication with range of stakeholders and partners to ensure all are informed of current activities and opportunities for input, feedback and collaboration are maximised.
  • Ensure relevant information is shared between agencies.
  • Advise on the development of new systems, processes and structures.
• Project manage specific projects as directed
  • Prepare, recommend and monitor project plans, with input from other participating stakeholders.
  • Lead, co‑ordinate or support project implementation, including using the Unit's resources, prepare reports, manage, promote, co‑ordinate and facilitate meetings and reports on performance, outputs and outcomes.

This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a payment at the current approved organisation rate will be made in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 07:00 – 19:00 hrs Monday to Friday and include working evenings, nights, weekends and bank/public holidays. The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. This role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong interpersonal skills to influence senior internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Police, YJB, HMCTS, etc.) outside of a line‑managed relationship.
• Written and spoken English (and Welsh where specified in Wales).
• Numerical skills and ability to work with data.
• Experience of managing large scale commercial contracts or SLAs with external providers.
• Experience of HMPS Incident Management Process as part of a Silver Command Team.
• Significant experience of managing audit and assurance processes within a custodial setting.
• Knowledge and experience of the external scrutiny procedures for all custodial services including HMIP, PPO and Audit bodies.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.
• Applicants with a long‑term condition or disability are encouraged to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.
• MoJ has a diversity and inclusion strategy aimed at creating an inclusive workplace for all staff and applicants.
• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. All external candidates are subject to a 6‑month probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.

Employment Details

• Salary: £52,316 (national). London salary range is £55,631 – £57,357.
• Annual leave: 1 March holiday year. Leave entitlements are pro‑rated for non‑standard work patterns.
• Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays: 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes).
• Public sector pension scheme available.
• Hybrid working available but must meet business needs. Some roles may not suit hybrid arrangements.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

At MoJ we are committed to recruitment by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or email moj‑recruitment‑vetting‑[e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing‑management‑[e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here).

MoJ is an employer that recognises and values the diversity of our workforce and is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive working environment for all staff. We also recognise the importance of supporting staff families with childcare vouchers, travel, training and career development opportunities.