Contracts Assistant (18 month Fixed-Term Contract / Secondment)

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

Job summary

A leading transportation organization is seeking a Supply Chain Management professional in Milton Keynes. The successful candidate will manage delivery schedules, analyze data, and support cost-effective material delivery. Required skills include advanced Excel, analytical abilities, and a customer-focused mindset. This is an 18-month fixed-term contract with a competitive salary range of £24,960 - £27,985 per annum.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines with accuracy.
• Good administration skills.
• Experience in a customer service role is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of supply chain contracts.
• Collate and reconcile transaction data.
• Develop effective relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Provide data for management reports.

Skills

Advanced skills in Excel

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Commercial awareness

Customer focus

Job description

Location

Milton Keynes, GB

Department Name

SCO - Fleet & Engineering

About Network Rail

Network Rail connects passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We are an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. We invest in our people to enhance the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact, this opportunity is for you.

About our people and the recruitment process

We are an inclusive employer of choice. We welcome applications from everyone and encourage flexible working. We are a Disability Confident Leader and will adapt the process to support people with disabilities.

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

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.

Day-to-day, you will be managing the delivery schedules of parts, chasing late orders and updating the systems, so any experience working with suppliers would be beneficial. You should also have some previous experience working in a client service environment and be used to communicating effectively by telephone and email communication.

Key accountabilities

• 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.

Essential Criteria

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

Desirable Criteria

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

How To Apply (External)

Vacancy type: 18 month fixed-term contract / secondment, with the potential to be extended or become permanent (unless a suitable redeployee is identified). Secondments are subject to your line manager’s agreement.

Location: The Quadrant, Milton Keynes.

Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working, 5 days in office during initial training period, moving to 3 days in the office and travel to NR depots/suppliers as required.

Salary range: Band 5. £24,960 - £27,985 per annum, depending on skills and experience.

Closing date: 17 November 2025. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.

Applicants must complete a supporting statement addressing how they meet the essential criteria. Please include this in your CV in one document. Those who do not provide this statement will not be shortlisted. For the supporting statement guide, please contact [e-mail] if you cannot access the guide.

Click ‘Apply now’ to submit your application. If you would like to speak with the Resourcing Team, please contact us using the provided email address.

Reasonable adjustments/support are available throughout the recruitment process. Examples of adjustments include extra time for online tasks or interviews, adaptation of workplace layout, provision of sign language interpreters, and alternative document formats. Please add a note to your application if you require adjustments.

Recruitment Process

• Competency Based Interview

Other Information

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Some roles may require face-to-face drug & alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with the successful individual as part of their formal offer, if applicable.