Senior Contracts & Performance Manager

GMCA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

GMCA in Manchester seeks a Senior Contracts & Performance Manager to lead directorate-wide commissioning oversight, contract management and performance governance. This role focuses on creating systems, information and assurance to support informed decisions and effective delivery across a growing portfolio of services and grants.

You will work with the Commercial Services function to ensure alignment with corporate standards, escalation processes and robust reporting to senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Experience in commissioning, contract management, and performance oversight within complex organisations.
• Strong governance, accountability and risk management understanding.
• Ability to translate large volumes of information into clear insight for decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of directorate-wide commissioning oversight and governance.
• Embed systems for contract management and performance oversight across GMCA.
• Collaborate with Commercial Services to align with corporate standards and reporting.

Job description

Senior Contracts & Performance Manager

Safer & Stronger Communities Directorate

Grade 9 £49,282 - £53,460

Please note: The role has been provisionally assessed as a Grade 9 post and is awaiting final audit panel sign-off. Appointment to the vacancy will be confirmed once that process has been completed.

Interviews will be held on Monday 12th October 2026.

About the role

Over recent years, the Safer and Stronger Communities Directorate has significantly expanded its commissioned services and grants activity in support of the delivery of the Deputy Mayor's Police and Crime Plan. As our portfolio has grown, so too has the need for stronger, more consistent commissioning oversight, performance management, contract management and governance arrangements.

This newly created role will play a central part in ensuring that the directorate has the systems, processes, information and assurance needed to effectively oversee delivery, manage risk and support informed decision-making.

Working across a diverse portfolio of commissioned services and grants, you will establish and embed the systems, processes and governance arrangements that support effective oversight, accountability and performance across the directorate. Rather than managing individual contracts directly, your focus will be on creating the systems, frameworks, information and governance arrangements that enable consistent, high-quality contract management, performance oversight and decision-making across the organisation.

You will work closely with the Combined Authority's Commercial Services function, helping ensure that directorate activity aligns with corporate standards, governance requirements and best practice, whilst acting as a key link between central commercial colleagues and operational teams.

In doing so, you will work closely with contract managers, service leads and senior managers to improve consistency, transparency and quality in the way commissioned activity is planned, managed and reviewed. You will help create an environment where contract managers and operational teams are supported to deliver effectively, whilst ensuring senior leaders have the information, assurance and visibility needed to make informed decisions.

The role will lead the development of directorate-wide approaches to commissioning oversight, contract management and performance management. This will include improving management information, coordinating pipeline planning activity, strengthening governance arrangements, identifying emerging risks and performance concerns, and ensuring appropriate escalation routes are in place.

Whilst the initial focus of the role will be on strengthening oversight across our commissioned services and grants portfolio, the position sits within the wider Oversight and Performance function and contributes to broader directorate assurance arrangements. This includes supporting the development of performance frameworks, improving organisational visibility of emerging risks and trends, and helping ensure that senior leaders have access to the information, insight and assurance needed to support effective oversight of policing, fire and wider public service delivery.

You will play a key role in supporting the Senior Management Team by ensuring that information is timely, meaningful and focused on the issues that matter most. By improving visibility of performance, risk and delivery across commissioned services, grants and wider directorate activity, you will help create the conditions for earlier intervention, stronger accountability and better outcomes. You will help develop the systems and reporting arrangements that allow emerging issues to be identified early, escalated appropriately and addressed before they become more significant delivery concerns.

The role provides a unique opportunity to shape a new function and leave a lasting impact on how the directorate oversees a substantial and growing portfolio of commissioned services, grants activity and wider performance arrangements.

About you

We are looking for an experienced professional with expertise across commissioning, contract management, performance management, governance and assurance within complex organisational environments. You will likely have developed this experience within the public sector and understand the realities of operating in highly visible and publicly scrutinised settings. However, we are equally interested in hearing from candidates who have developed comparable expertise in other sectors where strong governance, accountability, regulatory oversight and complex stakeholder environments are critical to success.

You will have experience of establishing or improving systems, processes and governance arrangements that strengthen organisational oversight, transparency and accountability. You will understand how to translate large volumes of operational, contractual and performance information into clear insight that supports effective decision-making and enables managers and senior leaders to focus attention where it is most needed.

You will be comfortable working across multiple teams and service areas, building strong relationships and influencing colleagues at all levels. You will be able to challenge constructively, identify opportunities for improvement and support managers to strengthen performance, delivery and compliance.

Experience of developing performance frameworks, management information, assurance arrangements and escalation processes will be particularly valuable, as will a strong understanding of how effective oversight contributes to improved delivery and organisational performance.

Most importantly, you will be someone who can bring consistency, transparency and quality to a complex portfolio, helping to create an environment where teams can perform at their best and leaders can influence with confidence.

Working for GMCA

At GMCA, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity, encourage flexible working and are committed to supporting the wellbeing and development of our people.

In return, we offer a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, access to a range of health and wellbeing support, and opportunities for learning and professional development.

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

For this opportunity

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Hybrid working

This role is part of GMCA's hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to \"Build Back Fairer\" in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our Manchester city centre office, allocated GM Local Authority office(s), or on site in the community, with remote working, typically from home (within a reasonable commutable distance from Greater Manchester); the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: \"Do what is right for you and the business on that day\". If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.