Contracts Lead (MBNL)

Three UK; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great pay

Bonuses

Pension plan

Parental leave policies

Charity time off

Job summary

VodafoneThree in Newbury offers a hybrid Contract Manager role focused on managing in-life large-scale contracts with suppliers and partners. You’ll ensure contractual clarity, mitigate risks, and coordinate with Finance, Legal and Procurement to govern payments and performance.

The role emphasizes collaboration across Operational teams to meet the UK's Best Network objectives and to realise commercial opportunities within the contract framework.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in commercial contract, supplier or strategic partner management.
• Ability to interpret complex contracts and provide pragmatic guidance.
• Experience with governance, supplier performance, disputes and risk.

Responsibilities

• Act as subject matter expert for contractual matters and guidance to stakeholders.
• Develop and manage governance, assurance, and compliance with obligations and metrics.
• Provide reporting on compliance, performance, risks and opportunities.
• Lead contract change management and formal communications per requirements.
• Provide contractual guidance to Strategy and ops teams to support network optimisation.
• Manage disputes, escalations and collaborate with Legal and Procurement.

Skills

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Governance & compliance

Commercial risk & dispute handling

Contract interpretation

Job description

Company Description

VodafoneThree - Contracts Lead (MBNL)
Location: Newbury + Hybrid
Working Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week – Mon to Fri

*Hybrid

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Who We Are

We’re here to build a network the UK can count on – one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online – we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future’s being built – today.

We’re creating more than the UK’s best network. We’re helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress.

We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there’s space for you here. We’re building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves.

You’ll join a team that genuinely cares – about each other, about our customers, and about the future we’re building. From day one, you’ll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.

Why VodafoneThree

Join us and you’ll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last.

We’re not just expanding connectivity; we’re reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country.

You’ll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you’ll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone.

We move at pace, because what we’re building matters – and we’re learning as we go. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we’re just getting started.

Join our UK Networks team, wherewe’recontinually building and enhancing our network, connecting millions of people and businesses across the country. Be part of the team that makes it all happen – simplifying, automating, and bringing better connectivity than ever before, with giga-fast speed, to our customers.

Job Description

What you’ll do

As a Contract Manager, you will develop and own the contract management plan to provide support and management of the in-life cycle of large-scale contracts with key Suppliers or Partners. You will provide contractual clarity and positions to internal stakeholders, highlight any risks to the Partnership Lead and present clear mitigation plans to articulate VodafoneThree’s position.

You will work closely with the operational teams responsible for delivering the Network Design, Build, and Operational obligations within the contract, ensuring a clear understanding of contractual commitments and responsibilities at a working level. You will also collaborate with key supporting functions, including Finance, Procurement, and Legal, to ensure the effective management of payments, credits, commercial governance, contractual compliance, and risk. In addition, you will identify and help realise commercial opportunities within the contractual framework. You will build strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers and partners and act as the primary point of contact for all contract-related matters, both internally and externally.

• Act as the subject matter expert and primary point of contact for all contractual matters, providing contract interpretation and guidance to operational stakeholders and collaborating with Legal and Procurement to ensure a consistent understanding of contractual rights, obligations and risks.
• Develop, implement and manage effective governance and assurance processes to monitor, track and report supplier, partner and VodafoneThree compliance with contractual obligations, commitments and performance measures.
• Provide regular reporting and insight to key stakeholders, highlighting contractual compliance, commercial performance, risks, issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead contract change management activities, including the preparation, review and submission of formal contractual communications, notices and change requests in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Provide contractual guidance and commercial insight to Strategy and operational teams, ensuring contractual frameworks support network optimisation objectives and the delivery of the UK's Best Network.
• Manage contractual disputes and escalations, engaging Legal and Procurement colleagues as appropriate to validate contractual positions, manage risk and support the achievement of commercially effective outcomes.
• Own and coordinate all formal contractual communications with suppliers and partners, ensuring consistency, governance compliance and protection of VodafoneThree's contractual position.
• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working closely with operational, Finance, Legal and Procurement teams to ensure contractual obligations, milestones and deliverables are clearly understood and achieved.
• Identify, assess and manage contractual and commercial risks, developing and implementing mitigation strategies while supporting the identification and realisation of opportunities within the contractual framework.

Qualifications

Who you are:

• Significant experience in commercial contract, supplier or strategic partner management within a technology-enabled business environment.
• Strong understanding of how technology, products and services deliver strategic business value and operational outcomes.
• Ability to interpret complex contracts and provide pragmatic guidance on contractual rights, obligations, risks and opportunities.
• Experience working effectively with technical, operational and strategy teams to support the delivery of business objectives.
• Proven stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across business functions, including Finance, Legal and Procurement.
• Experience managing contractual governance, supplier performance, contract changes, disputes and commercial risk.
• Excellent communication and relationship-management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders, suppliers and partners.

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly?

We know that everyone is unique, with multiple aspects to their identity and different experiences behind them. We are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in.

Additional Information

What we offer

• We care about our people’s success by offering great pay, bonuses, up to 28 days off plus bank holidays, and paid time for charity work.
• You can personalise our benefits for you and your family, like discounts, vouchers, a pension plan and loads more.
• We help with your career through our amazing learning tools and top-notch parental leave policies.

Need to know

We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to interview for a role that matches their skills. In collaboration with our Talent, Diversity & Inclusion teams and our employee-led DEI Networks, we identified a range of reasonable adjustments to help you feel comfortable and perform at your best self during the interview process. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please contact your recruiter directly or email [e-mail] for guidance.

We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements.

During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are—your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we’re looking for authenticity and can’t wait to get to know the real you.

#VodafoneThree