Contract Management Lead (Construction)

Job Description

• Lead contract management across a portfolio of construction, infrastructure and civil engineering projects in Cumbria.
• Manage, coach and develop a team of contract management professionals, building capability and driving high performance.
• Oversee the full contract lifecycle, including mobilisation, delivery, change control, supplier performance and close-out.
• Drive value for money, continuous improvement and benefits realisation through effective contract management and assurance activities.
• Collaborate with project, engineering, safety, quality and commercial teams to ensure successful contract delivery.
• Monitor performance, identify risks and opportunities, and implement improvements across the portfolio.
• Act as the escalation point for complex contractual, commercial and supplier performance matters.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with contractors and suppliers, ensuring high standards of safety, quality and performance.
• Support governance, audit and assurance activities, presenting to senior stakeholders and governance boards as required.
• Lead business improvement initiatives and deputise for the Head of Commercial Delivery when required.

 

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Degree in a relevant discipline and/or professional qualification with significant experience in construction, civil engineering, quantity surveying, commercial management, contract management or a related field, such as MRICS, MCIPS, CIOB or equivalent.
• Proven track record of managing a portfolio of high value and complex construction, civil engineering, infrastructure or site works contracts, including major construction and multi-supplier delivery environments.
• Strong working knowledge of construction contract administration, including NEC3/NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract and/or Professional Service Contract, compensation events, early warnings, programme obligations, payment processes, defects, claims and dispute management.
• Experience of working with project delivery, site management, engineering, safety, quality, planning and commercial teams to manage contractual obligations and support safe, compliant delivery on construction sites.
• Strong commercial and contract awareness throughout the contract lifecycle, including mobilisation, change, performance, risk, claims, disputes, completion and close-out.
• Good working knowledge of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023, including managing contract variations, extensions, termination and novation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with strong stakeholder management skills across senior management, technical, site delivery and supplier communities.

Desirable

• Experience of major projects, regulated infrastructure, nuclear, energy, defence, rail, highways, utilities or complex site-based delivery environments.
• Experience of managing commercial reporting, cost and value information, change registers, risk registers, contract dashboards and supplier performance measures for a portfolio of construction or civil works contracts.
• Ability to consolidate large volumes of delivery, commercial and performance data from various sources and undertake detailed analysis to generate reports, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Ability to share and embed best practice in construction contract management, site works governance and supplier performance across project teams and the wider organisation.
• Experience of working with local stakeholders, community considerations and geographically dispersed delivery teams in Cumbria or similar regional site-based environments.
• Experience of commercial and contract management systems such as Atamis, CEMAR or equivalent digital contract management systems, Business World, MS Excel, PowerPoint and Power BI, desirable but not essential as training can be provided.

 

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Who are we?

Simply put, our job is to secure a safer future for us all. We do this by managing and disposing of the UK’s nuclear radioactive waste safely and securely for generations to come. We have a critical role in the biggest multi-decade clean-up project in Europe. As part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, we provide permanent answers for nuclear waste.

Nuclear Waste Services builds on the work delivered at the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) site and the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) programme, maintaining these key activities whilst also adding further essential services for customers in the nuclear energy, defence, industrial, medical, and research sectors. Maintaining and developing this knowledge and experience is key to securing and developing our unique nuclear waste capabilities for the UK and the rest of the world

If you join Nuclear Waste Services, you’ll be part of a team that brings together some of the most brilliant minds from around the UK, working across many specialisms – scientific, engineering, safety, operations, commercial, community engagement, and regulatory – to name a few.

We want Nuclear Waste Services to be a great place​ to work where people are respected, included and can perform at their best. We do this by living our Nuclear Waste Services values;
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We are action orientated ​​​​​​​- We deliver for our customers, partners, and people safely & securely.

We are collaborative and inclusive - We have greater success when we work together.

We are ambitious - We are problem solvers who embrace and act upon new challenges.​​​​​

We act with integrity - We are trusted to build a safe, secure and sustainable future

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What's in it for you?

• On appointment to NWS you will receive 25.5 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and you can accrue up to 13 extra days leave
• Rewarding performance (annual bonus scheme)
• We offer a generous pension scheme through CNNP
• Learning and development support
• Payment of relevant annual professional subscriptions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Extended family-friendly policies
• Cycle to work scheme
• We welcome flexible and agile working practices

 

Please note: all of our roles will require the successful applicant to achieve BPSS Security Clearance. Some of our roles may require a higher level of clearance to be achieved. If this is required, this will be detailed in the Job Requirements section. If the role requires higher level of National Security Vetting, applicants must typically have 5 or 10 years continuous residency. Factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the level of clearance you’re able to achieve. The Security Clearance process will be explained by your recruiter but if you do have any questions about this process, please reach out to a member of the Talent Acquisition Team at nws.recruitment@nuclearwasteservices.uk or see  National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK

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Equal Opportunities

We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, included and able to perform at their best. At Nuclear Waste Service we are committed to creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We value the diversity of our people and actively seek to have a workforce that represents the rich diversity of the communities we support. Currently we are underrepresented in some areas, and would particularly welcome applicants from Women, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities, LGBTQ+ and candidates who have a disability.

In promoting equal opportunities, Nuclear Waste Service welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We select people according to their abilities and our needs. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for the vacancy. 

Please note: Nuclear Waste Services reserves the right to close the vacancy early. 

If you have any queries or would like to discuss this role, please email nws.recruitment@nuclearwasteservices.uk