Contracts Lead (Works)

House of Lords

We are looking for a Contracts Lead to join the Parliamentary Commercial Directorate (PCD) at House of Lords.

This role is based within PCD’s newly formed Contract & Supplier Management Team; this is an exciting time to join PCD where we are working to increase our impact across Parliament – while continuing to ensure the value for money from our nearly £1billion annual spend and supporting transformational projects across both organisations and our estate, including the Palace of Westminster itself which is a UNECSO world heritage site.

As a Contracts Lead, you’ll be playing a significant role in working with contract managers and strategic suppliers across both the House of Lords and House of Commons.

Using your experience of NEC contracts and stakeholder relationship skills, you’ll be managing specific ‘Works’ frameworks and working closely with colleagues in our ‘Works’ commercial category which focuses on procurement of construction, building refurbishment and maintenance, and hard facilities management contracts. You will also help establish our contract and supplier management business partnering arrangement through working closely with our colleagues in Strategic Estates.

In doing so, you will help to ensure that Parliament is successful in getting best value from its contracts, and that we have strong and resilient relationships with the key suppliers who help to maintain the Palace of Westminster and wider Parliamentary estate.

This is an opportunity to work on a hybrid basis where you will be able to work 3 days from home and 2 days onsite at Parliament! This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who has in-depth knowledge and experience of managing contracts within the Works category, can apply and advise on best practice contract management and enjoys building relationships both with suppliers and stakeholders within the business.

You’ll be accountable for –

• Managing specific critical Works or Indirect Framework agreements as required, including overseeing framework-level performance of contracts covering general construction works and services, conservation and heritage, mechanical, electrical, public health fire and structural, and architectural and engineering.
• Investigating and resolving disputes by providing constructive feedback and positive resolutions and outcomes.
• Managing risk, compliance, and framework obligations on behalf of Parliament Business partnering a community of contract managers and strategic suppliers within your area, advising on the management of the call-off contracts they deliver and using MI to effectively integrate and manage performance at Framework level.
• Developing reports/dashboards on Framework performance, issues, opportunities, and issuing these to senior stakeholders
• Contributing to the design of contract management approaches for new frameworks & advise on proportionate contract management for call-offs.

For full role responsibilities and duties, please see the attached job description.

What we’re looking for –

• You will have level 5 CIPS or above, OR a relevant similar equivalent qualification such as World Commerce & Contracting Advanced Practitioner, or Cabinet Office Government Commercial Function ADC accreditation, or Cabinet Office Contract Management Practitioner or Expert level accreditation.
• A strong understanding of contract management good practices and the role of supplier relationship management, and ability to articulate both and their benefits to non-expert audiences.
• In depth experience of Contract Management best practice including, but not limited to, experience of working with NEC contracts and/or framework contracts, contractual obligations, contractual change processes, contract performance, realising benefits and Value for Money, Exit Management.
• Experience of managing and addressing poor performance and disputes in contractual relationships.
• Experience of working with and building relationships with suppliers, with a willingness to develop your skills and experience around Supplier Relationship Management activities.
• Experience in advising and working collaboratively with business stakeholders and suppliers in complex situations to deliver value for money outcomes from contractual arrangements.
• Experience in contract data management such as KPI and performance reporting, production of pipelines, maintenance of contract registers, etc – with demonstrable ability of using MI from systems to inform decision making and deliver optimum commercial solutions.
• Experience of working at senior levels with internal and external stakeholders

It would be even better if you had or if you’re willing to learn

• In depth experience of mobilising, managing and exiting Framework Agreements

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Please complete your online application by 23.55pm on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact or .

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities