Service Lead - Commissioning and Contracts

Swindon Borough Council; Swindon; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Swindon Borough Council is seeking a Service Lead, Commissioning and Contracts to oversee inspection, commissioning and contract management for void repairs and housing maintenance. You will manage contracts, hold contractors to account, steer budgets and liaise with procurement, finance and field teams.

The role requires strong stakeholder management, knowledge of CDM 2015 and housing legislation, plus willingness to travel around the Borough and access to a car.

Qualifications

• Experience leading inspection, commissioning or contract management in housing/void repairs.
• Experience managing contracts and holding contractors to account for performance.
• Ability to oversee complex budgets, service delivery and stakeholder relationships.
• Desirable: property, construction or contract management qualification; health and safety qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead inspection and commissioning activity for repairs.
• Take accountability for contract management and contractor performance from mobilisation to renewal or closure.
• Work with void repairs teams, contractors, procurement and finance colleagues.
• Set clear expectations, monitor delivery and hold partners to account against standards, timescales and budgets.
• Fulfil Client and Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015.
• Monitor contractor performance through KPIs, SLAs and contractual measures.
• Manage contractor spend to maximise value for money using Nat fed rates.

Skills

Contract management

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Leadership

Performance monitoring

Education

Contract management qualification

Job description

Service Lead, Commissioning and Contracts

Ref: 192917

Salary: £56,293 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

Swindon Borough Council are on an exciting journey to transform service delivery. We want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for – the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.

Your next role

We are looking for someone with experience leading inspection, commissioning or contract management activity within a void repair’s role, housing or maintenance environment. You will have strong experience managing contracts and holding contractors to account for performance, alongside confidence overseeing complex budgets, service delivery and stakeholder relationships. A relevant property, construction or contract management qualification is desirable, as is a recognised health and safety qualification.

This role plays a key part in supporting the voids service, ensuring inspection, commissioning and contract management activities are clearly owned, controlled and delivered effectively. Reporting to the voids service manager, you will take responsibility for overseeing inspection and triage activity within the void repair’s element of the service, alongside the end‑to‑end management of key contracts and frameworks that enable day‑to‑day repairs delivery.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

The ability to travel throughout the Borough will be required and access to a car.

About the Role

• As a senior member of the team, you will:
• You will lead inspection and commissioning activity for repairs
• Taking full accountability for contract management and contractor performance from mobilisation through to renewal or closure.
• Work closely with void repairs teams, contractors, and procurement and finance colleagues

• You will set clear expectations, monitor delivery and hold delivery partners to account against agreed standards, timescales and budgets.
• Fulfil Client and Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015.
• Monitor contractor performance through KPIs, SLAs and contractual performance measures.
• Manage contractor spend maximising value for money using Nat fed rates.

What We’re Looking For

• You will be a confident and experienced service lead with experience of frameworks and contract management with:
• Significant experience in void/repairs property maintenance.
• Experience managing contractors and projects.
• Strong knowledge of frameworks and contracts.
• Experience in managing contractors to SLA’s and Kpi’s.
• Experience managing contractor spend and delivering value-for-money.
• Knowledge of housing legislation and property compliance requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Working with other team members and departments.

Technical Knowledge

You will demonstrate a strong understanding of:

• HHSRS
• CDM 2015
• JCT and NEC Contracts
• Housing repairs
• Property Safety Regulations
• Landlord and Tenant legislation
• Asset management principles
• Health and Safety requirements within construction and maintenance environments

Your next package

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, revitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information about the role please contact, Shakira Kurlej ([e-mail]) or Neil Wollard ([e-mail])

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application, please email [e-mail]

Closing date: 28 October 2026