Contract Manager - Local Government

WSP; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Contract Manager to join the Local Government team in Wales. You will build and maintain relationships with clients such as Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend Councils, ensuring NEC4 governance and contract delivery excellence.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive opportunities across the WSP portfolio. You will spend about three days per week in offices or client sites, coordinating across teams to deliver transport and

Qualifications

• Experience delivering technical Local Government services.
• Ability to lead high-performing teams and motivate others.
• Experience working with NEC4 contracts.
• Ability to build authentic, trusting stakeholder relationships.
• Passion for collaboration and delivering transformational change.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong client and internal team relationships.
• Act as primary point of contact for contract/partnership matters.
• Ensure NEC4 contract governance, risk management and compliance.
• Lead regular client meetings to review progress and identify opportunities.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for business growth and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead contract negotiations and delivery of contract promises.
• Ensure delivery milestones and KPIs are achieved.
• Provide guidance on risk management and project governance.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement within contract delivery.
• Support professional development of team members.

Skills

NEC4 contracts

Leadership & teams

Contract negotiations

P&L management

Stakeholder relationships

Strategic thinking

Job description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you?

At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

Closing Date: Friday 11th September 2026

A little more about your role...

We are looking for a Contract Manager to join our WSP Local Government team in Wales. This is a strategic role with responsibility for building, maintaining, and developing relationships with our clients, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend Councils.

Reporting to the Regional Director, you will ensure the effective delivery of contract / partnership objectives, drive business growth, and support organisational priorities, through collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You will be joining a team that are committed to delivering impactful transport and infrastructure projects across the region. Under our collaborative contract, WSP work closely with the Councils to improve highways, flood resilience, active travel routes, and support regeneration schemes; ensuring communities are better connected and protected from severe weather events. As a Contract Manager you will work collaboratively internally and externally to ensure that our contract is delivered effectively.

This role will require you to maintain a strong local presence across the region, typically 3 days per week either in our offices or our client’s offices. The Contract Manager role is a varied one, with key responsibilities including:

• Developing and maintaining a strong, trust-based relationships with clients and internal teams.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all contract/partnership matters
• Ensuring NEC4 contract compliance, governance and risk management
• Lead regular meetings with the client team to review progress, address issues, and identify new opportunities across the entire WSP portfolio.
• Utilising your wider network to provide your clients with the best of WSP.
  Identify, create, and pursue opportunities for business growth and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead contract negotiations, contract management and the delivery of contract promises.
• Responsible for the delivery of contract projects, ensuring milestones, KPIs, and outcomes are achieved.
• Undertake PM / PD roles as appropriate for the risk profile and technical expertise of a project.
• Drive innovation, social value and continuous improvement within contract delivery. This includes brining knowledge from other contracts and parallel sectors to your contract.
• Support the professional development of team members and partners.
  

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience in the successful delivery of technical Local Government services
• Experience of leading high performing teams with the ability to influence and motivate others
• Knowledge and experience of working with NEC4 contracts
• The ability to build authentic, trusting relationships with stakeholders and your team
• A passion for developing collaborative relationships with clients and partners and finding ways to add significant value and deliver transformational change
• Excellent inter-personal skills with good leadership and management abilities; capable of communicating effectively with all parts of Local Government and the wider WSP business
• Desire to constantly improve, motivate and encourage others; lead and implement change programmes; inspiring colleagues and driving an innovative and supportive culture.
• Experience of managing a P&L, along with associated financial and commercial business contributions.
• Strategic Thinking and Direction - motivated, forward thinking, capable of visualising and planning for the longer term. Designs, communicates, engages and drives the implementation of design and technical initiatives and strategies.
  

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?