Overview
The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme is a major investment programme in Wales. The Contract Manager will act as the central point of contact for all Local Authorities/Further Education Institutions involved in the Mutual Investment Model (MIM) element of the SCfL Programme and will manage centrally procured external advisers on these projects (legal, technical, financial, hedge fund, and insurance advisors).
Location: Pan Wales. Directorate: Education. Group: Education, Culture and Welsh Language. Branch: Infrastructure. Work pattern: Full time (applications welcome from part-time, job-share, or flexible arrangements).
Advertising basis: Permanent. Closing date: 28/04/2026, 16:00. Actual starting salary: A starting salary between £76,715 and £82,089 is offered based on skills, knowledge, experience and interview performance (range not negotiable). Salary range/pay band: Grade 6 £76,715 to £88,023. Allowances: No.
Purpose of the post
The current phase of investment will see £5.5bn invested across Wales in new and refurbished school and college buildings. The Contract Manager will ensure that Strategic Partnering Agreement and MIM Project Agreements are managed effectively to deliver high-quality outcomes and value for money, and will provide sectoral support to education delivery partners.
The Contract Manager will be the contract management expert resource with knowledge of MIM principles and risk transfer, understanding each Project Agreement, and assisting education delivery partners to challenge Project Co’s self-monitoring information, annual service charge invoicing, and to hold contractors accountable for contractual obligations.
Responsibilities
- Act as the single point of contact for education delivery partner queries during scoping of New Project Requests and through business case steps (SOC, OBC and FBC).
- Review and approve derogations to technical and legal standard form template documents as part of business case review processes.
- Regularly report progress to the Welsh Government’s Programme Director.
- Assist education delivery partners in resolving significant project-specific technical, commercial and financial issues to progress to financial close within budget caps.
- Help education delivery partners prepare for post-contract signature, ensuring understanding of legal and technical documentation to allow smooth Project Agreement management.
Key knowledge, skills and experience
- Extensive programme and contract management experience on complex construction projects, including funding models such as PFI/PPP.
- Ability to interrogate/understand complex contracts, performance standards and payment mechanisms; strong time management and prioritisation.
- Outstanding relationship management with senior stakeholders in the construction sector.
- Procurement and leadership experience to appoint/manage external advisers (legal, technical, financial, hedge fund, insurance).
- Ability to achieve best value for money for the public sector while delivering projects via private sector delivery models.
- Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines; manage complex project risk matrices; interpret and communicate commercial, financial, technical and legal data from multiple sources; negotiate value for money.
- Influencing and persuasion skills at senior levels; tact and diplomacy in written and verbal communications; ability to train/mentor less experienced staff.
- Commitment to equality and diversity.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Qualifications and other requirements
- Vetting level: Basic. Number of posts: 1.
- Contact: Neal O’Leary – Programme Director (sustainablecommunitiesforlearning@gov.wales).
- Welsh language requirements: Welsh skills desirable; not essential. Consideration given if multiple candidates have the same score at application/interview stage.
- Nationality requirements apply (see Civil Service guidance). This role is open to specified groups, including UK nationals, Irish nationals, certain Commonwealth and EEA nationals, with continued Civil Service benefits for eligible staff.
- All Welsh Government staff are Civil Service; information on diversity networks and applicable benefits is provided.
- How to apply: Applications must be made through the online system. Citations about visa sponsorship and eligibility criteria apply as noted in the advert.
Note
This document includes information about recruitment principles, feedback channels, and the process for applying. For more details, refer to the Civil Service Success Profiles guidance and the Welsh Government recruitment pages.
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