Contract Manager

Reporting into Programme Delivery, you will act as the key interface between Northern Powergrid and our external service provider partners, ensuring contracts are managed effectively, risks are appropriately controlled and performance expectations are consistently achieved.

The role requires strong stakeholder management, commercial awareness and analytical capability, working collaboratively with colleagues across Programme Delivery, Regional Operations, Commercial, Finance, Customer Service, Safety and Engineering to drive continuous improvement and maximise value from our contract arrangements.

You will play a critical role in monitoring performance, resolving issues, identifying opportunities for improvement and ensuring our contract partners support delivery of Northern Powergrid's operational, customer and regulatory objectives. As a strategic contract and supplier performance role, you will provide governance, contract oversight and stakeholder leadership, driving continuous improvement and enhancing delivery performance across our outsourced portfolio.

Along with a competitive salary of £55,000 - £65,000, we also offer great benefits such as;

• Annual bonus of up to 15%
• Personal transport provision

We’re excited to hear from candidates with a passion for our company and the energy industry and a desire to succeed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor, analyse and challenge contract performance, identifying trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop performance reporting and insight to support operational and executive decision-making.
• Lead regular performance reviews with service provider partners, ensuring delivery against contractual obligations and agreed targets.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, customer outcomes, quality and value for money.
• Support the resolution of operational, commercial and contractual issues through effective stakeholder engagement and escalation.
• Ensure contract governance arrangements remain effective, proportionate and aligned to business objectives.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to translate operational priorities into clear supplier expectations and delivery plans.
• Support financial forecasting, budget management and contract performance analysis.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify performance improvement opportunities.
• Ability to influence and challenge constructively at all organisational levels.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness.
• Ability to balance operational priorities with strategic objectives.
• Experience of driving supplier performance and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to make evidence-based decisions and effectively manage risk.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Level 4 - applications from those who have commensurate experience will also be considered.
• Relevant experience in contract management.
• Relevant experience administering a range of contracts.
• Relevant experience with scheme / project finance and commercial management.
• Full, current UK driving licence.

Other beneficial attributes/experience:

• Management of large outsourced service contracts and supplier relationships.
• Development and use of KPI, SLA and performance management frameworks.
• Experience working within operational, infrastructure, utility or asset-based environments.
• Application of data and insight to improve supplier and business performance.
• Leading governance forums, performance reviews and improvement initiatives.
• Experience of working across multiple stakeholders with competing priorities.

In order to comply with our electricity distribution licence, we have to ensure our colleagues are fit and proper to visit and enter our customers’ premises. Consequently, as this role may involve visiting and entering our customers’ premises, please be aware that the successful candidate will be subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Please confirm in your application if you are content for this check to be completed.

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