Lead Contract Manager

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible First options

Private healthcare discounts

Gym membership discounts

Online GP

Counselling service

Cycle to Work scheme

Maternity and adoption pay

Paternity leave

Job summary

SSEN Distribution, part of the SSE group, seeks a Lead Connections Contracts Manager to drive performance in the Connections Contract Management function. You will own customer relationships and contractual obligations, leading a high-performing team through energisation projects with a customer-first focus.

Based in Reading or Portsmouth with a Flexible First approach, you will collaborate across SSEN to unify delivery, develop best-practice frameworks and maximise value while mitigating risks

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading contract management teams.
• Strong understanding of regulatory funding and charging mechanisms.
• Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in a utility or regulated environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Optimise performance of the Connections Contract Management team and manage customer relationships.
• Collaborate across SSEN to ensure consistent delivery across multiple teams.
• Develop and implement training, governance and reporting aligned with best practice.
• Issue and manage SLC12 Connection Offers from acceptance to energisation, reducing risks.
• Coach and empower colleagues to perform at their full potential in a challenging environment.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Base Location:

Reading or Portsmouth

You’ll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in the office

Salary:

£51,600 - £77,400 + performance-related bonus and a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern:

Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The Role

We’re looking for a Lead Connections Contracts Manager to play a vital role in driving performance, improving service delivery, and leading a high-performing team within our Connections Contract Management function.

You’ll take ownership of customer relationships and contractual obligations, ensuring consistency and excellence in our connections services. You'll collaborate with teams across SSEN, develop best practice frameworks, and manage projects from contract acceptance through to energisation all while mitigating risks and maximising value.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced professional with great leadership qualities, deep industry knowledge, and a customer-first mindset to make a lasting impact on the future of our network.

This vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if a high number of applications is received.

You Will

• Optimise performance of the Connections Contract Management team and ownership of customer relationships to ensure our service is delivered.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across SSEN to ensure consistency of delivery across multiple teams
• Drive income by developing and implementing training, governance, reporting practices, and behaviours aligned with industry best practice
• Efficient and accurate issuing of Standard License Condition 12 (SLC12) Connection Offers and subsequently their contractual management, from acceptance to energisation, to mitigate contractual, network security, and financial risks to SSEN
• Develop, coach, motivate and empower all colleagues and direct reports in line with the leadership blueprint to deliver and perform to their full potential within a positive but challenging environment.

You Have

• Good commercial awareness with an understanding regulatory funding and charging mechanisms
• Customer driven environment, possessing excellent negotiation and personal skills
• Good knowledge of utility, infrastructure, engineering, or regulated operational environments, with the ability to apply that experience to electricity distribution networks and associated assets.
• Leader of people; coaching and mentoring skills, performance management skills.
• Ability to deliver within challenging timescales, the ability to effectively prioritise, plan and organise, balance immediate and longer-term business priorities

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

SSEN Distribution, part of the wider SSE group, powers 3.9 million UK homes and businesses. Our team of more than 4,200 skilled engineers, customer service advisors and energy experts keep customers connected to a safe, reliable supply of electricity while investing in and developing the flexible networks needed for our low carbon future.

Flexible Benefits To Fit Your Life

• Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships.
• Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service.
• Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme.
• As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.