Corporate Contracts Manager (Band 4/HEO)

This is an exciting opportunity for a Contracts Manager to join our wider Divisional Support Team in the Science Solutions and Business Management Unit. The team is based in HSE’s Science Engineering and Analysis Division in Buxton, Derbyshire - a world leading provider of health and safety solutions to industry and government. This role can be based in any of the listed HSE offices, but there is an expectation that you will attend the Buxton laboratory on a regular basis.

Our work spans across a wide and varied range of sectors including fire, explosion, process safety and engineering; occupational and environmental health; risk assessment; work environment; and specialist photographic and analytical services. We undertake cutting edge research, analysis and testing in support of HSEs policy, regulation and inspection functions, as well as providing consultancy and training services to other organisations.

The scope of our important work requires a dedicated individual to manage a number of key Corporate Support contracts which underpin the work of the many scientists, engineers and analysts. You will interact with HSEs suppliers on these contracts, manage and track their performance and delivery, financial aspects (ordering, invoices, etc.), collate and provide regular metrics to inform colleagues and leadership updates. You will also work closely with colleagues in HSEs Procurement Unit to renew contracts, scope and draft tenders for new service requirements, and ensure all permissions and approvals are in place.

This is an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively across HSE with both internal and external stakeholders (both government and industry) and to provide essential contract oversight and management to support HSE’s essential scientific activities

Due to the nature of the work, this role is offered on a full-time basis only.

You will have responsibility for managing and supporting a number of Corporate Support contracts with external suppliers to ensure that HSE is provided with appropriate services and products in support of its science and regulatory activities. These include: Provision of laboratory gases, provision of equipment calibration and maintenance services plus various other corporate support contracts as required.

You will;

• Act as the data steward and report on service provision performance to your line manager and provide monthly metrics reporting through the Management Intelligence team to inform Divisional Leadership.
• Act as the main point of contact for these suppliers, acting as the intelligent customer for HSE, and ensuring that all end users requirements are addressed and their needs are met. Where contracts need to be retendered or new services procured, you will act as the main internal customer and work with Procurement Unit to inform the tender specification, define evaluation and award criteria and then evaluate supplier tender responses.
• Manage contract budgets, tracking and predicting spend profiles and updating finance colleagues on a monthly basis. Also submitting budget forecasts for future year spending based upon existing commitments and any new requirements.
• Raise, validate and receipt purchase orders (PO), using standard templates when services are requested by end users and invoiced by suppliers, and ensuring appropriate approvals are in place before processing through HSE internal systems for payment.

Travel

This post can be based in any of the advertised locations however, the team is based in our HSE Science and Research Centre, Buxton and there is the expectation that you will attend the Buxton office at least 2 days per month.

As this position may be based at two different working locations, the successful candidate will be subject to multiple placed working and will therefore be able to claim their travel expenses for commuting to Buxton.

Additionally, Buxton is also the base for many of the end users of the Corporate Support Contracts that the role will manage and support. Occasional travel to visit supplier sites around the country may be required.

GCSE English and Maths (Grades A-C or equivalent) or equivalent / higher qualifications.

You must either possess, or be willing to work towards a nationally recognised contract management qualification, to at least Foundation level, through the Government Commercial Function within a reasonable timeframe which we consider to be within 18 months of taking up post.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete:

• An anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 750 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert and your relevant experience,
• A statement of (no more than 250 words) on the Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service',
• An anonymised CV which should include your career history and qualifications. Please note that the CV will be used to validate qualifications. Please ensure that you tailor your CV to demonstrate the mandatory qualifications, you MUST detail your GCSEs or equivalent / higher qualification within the CV section.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement How to Apply

Sift Information

The sift will take place from week commencing 7th September where you will be assessed on your CV, Behaviour and Personal Statement.

IMPORTANT: Please be advised that the sift will be conducted on a knock-out basis. An initial sift will be conducted on your CV. If you meet the benchmark for the CV, your Personal Statement will be scored. If you meet the benchmark for both the CV and Personal Statement, you will progress to a full sift in which the Behaviour will also be scored.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place from week commencing 21st September, where you will be assessed on the Behaviours advertised and your Experience in relation to the Essential Skills and Criteria.

Interviews will take place in-person at our Buxton office. We will consider virtual interviews on a case-by-case basis.

Please be advised that the Lead competency, Experience, will be used to determine outcomes in the event of a tie-break.

Qualifications - Please be advised that, if successful, you will be asked to provide evidence of your relevant qualifications. Failure to provide these may result in the withdrawal of your job offer.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further;

Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.