Senior Contracts & Compliance Manager

Useful Simple Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Personal development

Private medical insurance

Company pension

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Useful Simple Trust in London is seeking a Senior Contracts & Compliance Manager to own end-to-end contract delivery and ensure regulatory compliance across projects in the built environment. You will review and negotiate contracts, partnering with service leads and project directors to achieve compliant, commercial outcomes.

The role covers operational compliance leadership, supply chain/IR35, governance and assurance, plus capability building.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5/6 years experience in a similar role within the construction industry or consultancy.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts with a pragmatic/commercial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Review contracts (incl. NEC forms) to identify key risks, responsibilities and compliance.
• Lead routine commercial negotiations within delegated authority; escalate when needed.
• Provide contract summaries to teams to ensure ongoing compliance across projects.
• Offer in-life contractual clarification support and maintain contract registers.
• Develop and improve operational compliance processes within authority.
• Advise project teams on compliance matters and keep information up to date.
• Monitor UK regulatory developments and translate into practical guidance.
• Lead due diligence and onboarding checks for subconsultants.
• Manage IR35 status assessments for contractors.
• Support Health & Safety compliance with CDM Regulations 2015.
• Carry out internal compliance reviews and improve templates/guidance.
• Provide training and practical guidance to beneficiaries.

Skills

Contract management

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiations

Risk assessment

Job description

Senior Contracts & Compliance Manager

Location: London (Hybrid working available)
Salary: £65,000 - £75,000
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent

The Role Overview

We are looking for Senior Contracts & Compliance Manager with a minimum of 5/6 experience in a similar role within the construction industry ideally in consultancy. This role manages the end-to-end delivery of contracts in the Trust. They review and negotiate contracts with a pragmatic and commercial mindset ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements. They business partner with service leads and project directors to deliver the best outcome for the Trust. In addition, they support the Trust in areas of compliance, both regulatory and quality.

Key Responsibilities

Contracts & Commercial Support

• Review industry-standard contracts, including NEC forms with support from external legal advisers as required, to identify key risks, responsibilities and compliance requirements.
• Lead routine commercial contractual negotiations within delegated authority, engaging Project Directors or external legal advisers where commercial or legal risk requires escalation.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations across projects by providing teams with key information and contract summaries.
• Provide in-life contractual clarification support.
• Maintain contract negotiation and signed contract registers.

Operational Compliance Leadership

• Develop, maintain and continuously improve operational compliance processes within delegated authority that support consistent project delivery.
• Provide straightforward guidance to teams so they understand what 'good' looks like.
• Act as a trusted advisor to project teams and leadership on compliance matters.
• Ensure all compliance information is kept up to date
• Monitor relevant UK regulatory developments and translate changes into practical guidance and recommended updates to Trust processes.
• Prioritise compliance activities according to organisational risk, project priorities and business needs.

Supply Chain, IR35 & H&S Assurance

• Lead due diligence and onboarding checks (excel vetting) for subconsultants.
• Manage IR35 status assessments for contractors.
• Support the Trust in maintaining compliance with UK health & safety legislation, including CDM Regulations 2015 by monitoring requirements, coordinating actions and escalating material risks.
• Support the Health & Safety group in maintaining a culture where safety is understood, owned and taken seriously by everyone.

Governance, Risk & Assurance

• Carry out internal compliance reviews where required.
• Identify recurring issues and improve compliance processes, templates and guidance to increase efficiency and consistency.
• Use simple reporting to give leadership visibility of key risks and compliance performance.
• Support project teams in making proportionate, risk-based compliance decisions where requirements are unclear or competing obligations exist.

Capability Building & Support

• Provide clear, practical training and guidance to beneficiaries.

Personal Approach & Experience

• Builds confidence within project teams through practical support, consistency and trusted advice.
• Help teams understand not just what they need to do, but why it matters.
• Collaborative and influential, building positive relationships across teams and with external partners.
• Confident to challenge constructively and make proportionate, risk-based decisions.
• Manages and develops others, promoting understanding, accountability and continuous improvement.

Who We Are

The Useful Simple Trust (UST) is an award-winning group of professional Engineering, Architecture, Design and Consultancy practices driving change in the built environment through our three brands: Expedition Engineering, Useful Projects, and Useful Studio. Certified as a B Corp, Social Enterprise, and Employee Benefit Organisation, we are addressing the significant issues of our time, including Net Zero carbon, circular economy, biodiversity gain, and social impact. We are a certified Carbon Literate Organisation and are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

What We Offer

• Flexible and hybrid working, including the possibility to work a compressed nine-day fortnight.
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Personal development programme including enhanced learning and mentoring, as part of a coaching culture.
• Private medical insurance for you and your family.
• Company Pension Scheme (grade dependent, minimum of 6%).
• Life Assurance, Annual Eyecare Plan, and Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family.

Diversity Statement

UST strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We encourage people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women, people with different abilities, the LGBTIQ+ community, and all age groups to apply. We know that diversity makes us stronger, and we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment.