Head of Contract Management

The Crown Prosecution Service Chief Finance Officer Directorate is delighted to advertise the role of head of contract management.
As head of contract management, you have the opportunity to make a real contribution to our commercial strategy. Overseeing a wide range of contract management matters, you will lead a team of commercial specialists to identify areas where practices can be improved to drive savings, increase efficiency and deliver innovation. You influence key contract negotiations with suppliers, ensuring that we secure value for money and manage risk appropriately, as well as collaborating with internal customers to develop contract management and supplier relationship strategies.
This is a high-profile role where you work closely with senior peers, stakeholders and other government departments, so excellent communication skills are key. We are looking for a proactive individual to help us build on our continuing journey to improve our commercial function’s offering, supporting the vital work the Crown Prosecution Service does both now and in the future. You take a keen interest in the wider commercial landscape, maintaining knowledge and understanding of key suppliers, market intelligence and government policy – applying this knowledge to continually improve efficiency. Experience of implementing contract management is essential.
The Crown Prosecution Service is based in England and Wales. If you’re applying for this role and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must let us know when accepting this offer, as you need permission to work from your home address if hybrid working is part of your role. There is no guarantee that this approval will be granted.
You must be aged 16 before starting in the role – start dates are expected to be 8-12 weeks after the closing date of this advert., + To lead key contract negotiations with suppliers, securing value for money and managing risk appropriately – including variations to standard framework terms, and contract change control.
+ To ensure ICT is used effectively to manage commercial data, implement governance structures, and report on contract management performance.
+ To identify areas where economies, efficiencies, or effectiveness of spend may be improved, and then implement the improvements.
+ To implement the category management methodology to stay ahead of the latest market trends and fluctuations.
+ To lead your team to deliver against business plan objectives for the Commercial Directorate.
+ To be part of a senior management and leadership team – collaborating, supporting, and driving your team’s success.
+ To drive operational excellence with our supplier base., CPS is passionate about ensuring that we are a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We are committed to be an equal opportunities employer and creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work and individuality is truly appreciated.
We want to ensure all our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes where possible, flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment, which means that where you work (i.e. a court, an office, or a remote setting such as your home) will be based on the kind of work you are undertaking.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering Disability, Faith and Belief, LGBTQI+, Race, Social Mobility alongside our Mental Health First Aiders Programme and Wellbeing Sessions.
CPS commits to offer its employees the following experience
+ Impactful, purposeful work – making a difference to your local communities
+ The ability to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources
+ To care about your wellbeing
+ To feel valued, trusted and included
We also offer the following range of benefits:
+ Civil Service Pension
+ Access to employee savings
+ Cycle2Work scheme
+ 25 days leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
+ 1 extra privilege day entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.
+ Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
+ Flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
+ Childcare vouchers unless already registered with the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme
Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service is about inclusion, embracing differences and ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. We want you to feel that you belong and can thrive, whatever your background, identity or culture. As a Disability Confident employer, we're happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments and improve your recruitment experience. If you'd like any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment process, let us know within your application or contact Connie.Hill@cps.gov.uk
The CPS also has a range of development programmes to support all aspiring, new and experienced managers with developing the skills, behaviours and knowledge to build their confidence and capability. Our Manager Induction Programme is mandatory for all managers appointed from April 2024. This is a fantastic opportunity to arm all our new CPS managers with the tools required to perform effectively in their roles., This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Recruitment Process
The recruitment process will consist of an online application, interview and assessment which are expected to take place on 24 and 25 September 2024 in York.
A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with further guidance, if you have any queries about this please contact Connie.Hill@cps.gov.uk
You should keep these dates free or notify us if you are not available. We will make every effort to accommodate you in your preference for dates, however we cannot guarantee that they will be met.
Assessment
You will be asked to undertake an assessment as part of the recruitment process for this role, details of which will be provided immediately prior to your interview., Please note, the panel reserve the right to only assess the lead behaviour 'leadership’ at shortlist and raise the minimum standard pass mark. The panel may also refer to the lead behaviour at the interview stage to determine merit order.
CV
You will not be required to upload your CV however, when submitting your application there is a CV section. You will be required to provide information regarding your employment/academic history for the past three years.
It is your responsibility to provide the specified application information in the requested format to ensure that you are considered for the post. If you are unable to cover three years through employment/academic, a character reference will be required for clearance purposes.
Please note, if you are unable to cover 3 years through employment/ academic, a character reference will be required for clearance purposes.
Strengths
Please note, strengths will be tested at interview stage, the strengths being tested will not be shared in advance of the interview.
Use of AI
Candidates must ensure that their applications, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note, that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Other
This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.
We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home, and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. We offer a hybrid working policy. From September 2024, you must spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.
Clearance Required
The successful applicant will be required to secure Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
If successfully appointed, you will be asked to complete the character enquiry form and nationality and immigration questionnaire. If you are an internal member of staff, you will not be required to undergo a DBS check as you will already hold this clearance.
The job you are applying for is covered by Article 3(a) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, consequently Section 4(2) of that Act does not apply.
For the reasons outlined above you are required to disclose all previous convictions and cautions, including spent convictions. Failure to make a full declaration will result in the withdrawal of an offer of employment if our checks reveal convictions that have not been disclosed.
Reserve List
Candidates who are recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months and may be offered another post, should any further vacancies for a head of contract management arise in their chosen location. The Crown Prosecution Service may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other roles requiring similar knowledge and experience, including in other locations.
Feedback
Feedback will not be provided until the recruitment campaign is complete, please note that written feedback will not be provided for candidates who do not pass the application stage.
Fraud Check
The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they’ve been successful at interview. These candidates are informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details – name, National Insurance number and date of birth – are checked against the Insiders Threat Database. We won't employ anyone included on the database unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances., + UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Be at least age 16 before starting in the role.
+ Be a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) or working towards this.
+ Be a Commercial and Contract Manager Advanced Practitioner/Expert or working towards this.
+ Have experience of excellent stakeholder management and influencing to build consensus around a course of action.
+ Have experience of building and developing an effective and high-performing team – delivering effective commercial outcomes and developing their professional capabilities.
+ Have experience of identifying potential improvements and successfully managing changes that deliver successful commercial outcomes.
+ Have experience of implementing the latest category management methodology with a clear demonstration of staying up to date with latest category management market trends., + Leadership
+ Changing and Improving
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Must be a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) or working towards this.
+ Commercial and Contract Manager Advanced Practitioner/Expert or working towards this., 1. Leadership – lead behaviour
2. Changing and improving
3. Making effective decisions
4. Communicating and influencing
5. Managing a quality service
In addition, you will need to demonstrate the following essential experience/technical skills required for this role, detailed in the experience/technical Section of the candidate pack, which are:
+ Experience of excellent stakeholder management and influencing to build consensus around a course of action.
+ Experience of building and developing an effective and high-performing team – delivering effective commercial outcomes and developing their professional capabilities.
+ Experience of identifying potential improvements and successfully managing changes that deliver successful commercial outcomes.
+ Experience of implementing the latest category management methodology with a clear demonstration of staying up to date with latest category management market trends.
+ Must be a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) or working towards this.
+ Commercial and Contract Manager Advanced Practitioner/Expert or working towards this.
You will also need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service Values., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £54,200, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £14,634 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.