Contracts Assistant

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a Contracts Assistant to support the management of supply chain operations. This role involves recording and analyzing data, ensuring the cost-effective delivery of materials, and developing relationships with stakeholders to facilitate smooth operations. Ideal candidates will possess strong administration and analytical skills, and a customer-focused approach. Join a leading organization dedicated to building a safer and more efficient railway.

Benefits

Up to 28 days annual leave

Rail travel subsidies

Flexible working arrangements

Discounts on shopping and gym memberships

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines with high accuracy.
• Good administration and analytical skills.
• Good interpersonal and relationship building skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of supply chain contracts for delivery of goods and services.
• Collate data on transactions for contract delivery.
• Develop relationships with customers and suppliers.

Skills

Administration

Analytical Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Commercial Awareness

Customer Focused Approach

Job description

Join to apply for the Contracts Assistant role at Network Rail

Join to apply for the Contracts Assistant role at Network Rail

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Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

Location

Milton Keynes, GB

Department Name

NJ Materials & Projects (618716) G2

About Network Rail

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here .

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us , whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

Brief Description

Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway. See the diagram for a breakdown of our services. To learn more, please click here to watch our video.

This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.

SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customers moving – making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule. Watch our video Working in Supply Chain Operations

Working with us is More than a Salary

About The Role (External)

In this role you’ll support the management of the supply chain to achieve the most cost effective, compliant delivery and recycling of material. You’ll record and analyse data to facilitate the provision of management information.

Key accountabilities include:

• Support the management of supply chain contracts to achieve the most cost effective delivery of goods and services.
• Collate data on all transactions incurred in delivering contracts. Investigate and reconcile transactions and costs as part of an end-to-end process.
• Develop effective relationships with customers and suppliers. Develop and maintain processes for effective query resolution.
• Support the team as required, to deliver a comprehensive service to the business areas.
• Provide data, analysis and commentary for management reports.
• Assist in supporting the timely collection of business unit commercial information and payment of business unit creditors.
• Assist in identification and implementation of quality and efficiency improvement initiatives.
  
  
  

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following criteria:

Essential

• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines and mandated processes with a high level of accuracy.
• Good administration and analytical skills.
• Good interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Good commercial awareness.
• A customer focussed approach.
  
  
  

Desirable

• Railway knowledge.
• Awareness of supply chain processes.
• Experience within a customer service role.
  
  
  

How To Apply (External)

Vacancy type: This is a permanent role.

Location: This position is based in The Quadrant, Milton Keynes (3 days per week in the office).

Hours 35 hours per week with hybrid working and travel as required.

Salary range: £24,960 to £27,985 depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 24 June 2025 . Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

You will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria, please complete this as part of the application process and add this to your CV in one document . Applicants who do not complete this statement will not be shortlisted. Please see attached guide – How to complete Supporting Statement.

If you cannot access the guide, please contact [e-mail] and we will send you a copy.

Click ‘Apply now’ to submit your application. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team, please contact [e-mail]

If you would like any reasonable adjustments support during your application or throughout the recruitment process , please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist.

Below are some examples of adjustments we can make:

• Changing a provision, practice or ‘the way things are done’
  
  
  

For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed.

• Changing a physical feature of our workplace
  
  
  

For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs.

• Providing extra equipment or assistance
  
  
  

For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.

There are lots of other adjustments we can consider – please just ask!

The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following;

• Competency Based Interview
  
  
  

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.

For further information about how we recruit, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/how-we-recruit/

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

For some of our roles all prospective external candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

More information can be found in our Drugs and Alcohol Guidance document.

At Network Rail you will have a clear development path, access to training and enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as; up to 28 days annual leave, rail travel subsidies, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more.

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Administrative

• Industries

  Rail Transportation

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