IT Procurement Contracts Manager

Job Purpose

Job Title: IT Contracts Manager

Advertised Salary: £48,000 + car cash allowance (£5,100 p.a.) + benefits

Location: Remote, with travel across our network required. Average travel 2 days per week to engage with stakeholders and suppliers. Most travel at this current time is within the North (Northwest and Yorkshire) and West Midlands regions.

Are you a motivated Procurement Professional looking for a new senior role that offers development, responsibility, autonomy, flexibility and prioritises well being?

We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

Procurement are a highly engaged team and are responsible for both tendering and supply development at the Trust. Procurement influence over 80% of the Trust non-payroll spend, in excess of £100 million, and drive significant saving efficiencies in collaboration with suppliers and stakeholders. Our maturity has grown over the last 5 years which has resulted in a changing focus in activity from cost savings realised through tendering to driving efficiencies through supply development.

We have an exciting vacancy within our Procurement team for an IT Contracts Manager, who will manage delivery of IT contracts ensuring they give excellent service and value for money. Through use of reporting dashboards and metrics, governance and management, you will drive continuous service improvement with IT suppliers; managing competitive tendering, ensuring most economically advantageous recommendations whilst minimising risks.

The ideal applicant would have experience in contract management, tendering, and supplier development (optimisation).

See our annual report here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/annual-report-and-accounts

Location

The role will be based working from home, with the allocation of a nearby Hub for collaborative working in either our Leeds, Birmingham, Hatton, Milton Keynes offices. Average travel 2 days per week to engage with stakeholders and suppliers. Most travel at this current time is within the North (Northwest and Yorkshire), West Midlands regions and Milton Keynes.

Some travel to other Trust locations, including in-person collaboration with colleagues, can be expected but will be ad hoc and on an 'as required' basis.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Key accountabiities:

• Manage all stages of the IT contract lifecycle, from procurement and negotiation to performance monitoring and contract renewal, overseeing the IT contract schedule and procurement programme
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with IT vendors and suppliers, acting as the main point of contact for contract-related matters.
• Develop and monitor SLAs and KPIs to measure supplier performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Conduct regular contract reviews and audits to ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand IT requirements and facilitate the selection of appropriate vendors and solutions.
• Negotiate contract terms and pricing to achieve favorable outcomes for the organization while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
• Develop and maintain contract management processes and procedures to ensure efficiency, transparency, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and present reports on contract performance, financial metrics, and other relevant information to senior management and key stakeholders, ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Recommend the award and extension of contracts to the Procurement Sub Executive Committee.
• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of IT services and drive continuous service improvement with IT suppliers for new or improved services as the Trust requires, or if extra value can be gained.
• Proactively deliver regular updates - Monthly Procurement Report, Contract Register, workload plan, 1-2-1s and other identified reports.

About you

This role is based with our Procurement team, and we are looking for someone with 5 years experience, has good knowledge and confidence in identifying and driving cost savings, efficiencies and improving supplier performance. Our successful applicant may previously have worked in roles including IT Contract Management, IT Procurement.

Technical:

• Degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline, e.g. IT, Business Management, Finance.
• Proven experience in IT contract management, procurement, or vendor management.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to achieve win-win outcomes for the organisation and vendors.
• Supplier relationship management (IT suppliers).
• Ability to collaborate with and influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally with our suppliers in order to deliver agreed strategy
• Experience of industry standard forms of contract in IT industry (both service provision and large IT transformation projects)
• Commercial acumen in order to drive sustainable cost saving and efficiency plans
• Knowledge of IT systems and technologies is advantageous.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
• ITIL4 Supplier management qualification or good ITIL awareness
• Professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply. Understanding of procurement standards and policies, advantageous but not essential.
• Knowledge of UK Procurement Law, Competition Law and Contract Law.

General:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Self-motivated and a team player.
• Good understanding of SAP systems or other electronic procurement systems
• Valid driving licence.

To apply: click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What We Offer

In addition to your salary of £48,000, you will benefit from a Car Cash Allowance of £425 per month, a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

Other benefits include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with 'hub' facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us]]>