Contract Management Framework Lead

Contract Management Framework Lead
Division – Finance & Corporate Services
Department – Procurement

Salary - National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £48,900 to £68,000 and London £53,700 to £75,000 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more About the FCA.

​Finance & Corporate Services is a strategic partner to the FCA ensuring the organisations resources are both protected and used efficiently & effectively in line with the strategy and business plan. 

The Procurement Department is accountable for the selection and management of third-party suppliers to enable the delivery of Value for Money for the FCA, whilst ensuring compliance with procurement legislation.

The role sits within the Supplier Management team which is responsible for the ongoing management and continuous improvement of both the Supplier Management and Contract Management Strategies, Frameworks and working practices across the organisation.

What will you be doing?

• Drive Framework Development: manage the finalisation and implementation of a Contract Management Framework, including conducting pilot initiatives. Integrate external best practices and insights from pilot outcomes to refine the operating model, enhance the governance framework, and establish an oversight regime to ensure organisation-wide compliance.

• Support Process Development: revise existing contract management processes and design new procedures, providing expert guidance and expertise to Contract Managers to ensure effective implementation across the organisation

• Strengthen Governance and Compliance: conduct regular reviews to assess compliance with the Contract Management Framework, identify gaps, and implement corrective measures to maintain alignment and accountability

• Integrate Risk Controls and Contract Management: align risk controls from the Third-Party Risk Management Framework with contract management processes, creating an integrated set of operating practices

• Build Meaningful Relationships: build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders and suppliers, acting as a trusted advisor and escalation point for complex queries and ensuring alignment with organisational frameworks

• Leverage Data and Digital Tools for Insights: extract, review, and present key information to support reporting goals, including compliance monitoring and supplier financial health assessments. Finalise requirements and drive the implementation of the supplier and contract management module within the digital procurement tool, driving enhanced efficiency, transparency, and decision-making capabilities

What will you get from the role?

• Purposeful Impact: Work for an organisation that prioritises the public good, with recommendations that contribute to the wellbeing of people, businesses, and the UK economy - join a motivated team focused on protecting consumers, ensuring financial market integrity, and fostering fair competition

• Be a Catalyst for Change: Lead the deployment and embedding of an aspirational Contract Management Programme, driving value in a workplace where senior stakeholders appreciate and support the initiative

• Shape Organisational Growth: Be part of a team dedicated to supporting the maturity and growth of the organisation, supporting robust and future-forward contract management practices

• Inspire and Influence: Work closely with senior stakeholders across the FCA, leveraging your influence to foster collaboration and ensure supplier engagements deliver measurable value

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here)

Minimum

• Proven experience of Contract Management, with experience and track record of designing, developing and improving Contract Management Frameworks

• Demonstrable evidence of building constructive relationships with key internal business stakeholders and suppliers at all levels, with the ability to influence

• Strong written communication, problem-solving and analytical skills

Essential

• Proven experience with contract management processes, systems, and governance requirements, including the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of Contract Management Frameworks, roles, and procedures, with strong stakeholder engagement

• Proficient in working within the Public Contracts Regulations and using procurement/purchasing systems effectively

• Demonstrates strong commercial awareness to guide decision-making and strategy in contract management

• Skilled in identifying and managing key stakeholders across business areas, fostering rapport, building constructive relationships, and effectively managing escalations

• Capable of making a strong personal impact by presenting well-reasoned arguments, questioning constructively, and driving consensus where appropriate

• Possesses excellent consulting and relationship management skills, with the ability to operate comfortably at all organisational levels

• Role models manager behaviours, values, and technical best practices, providing guidance and mentorship to contract managers in alignment with the FCA’s framework

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee were the first in their family to attend university.

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of the organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, minority ethnic, disabled, and neurodivergent candidates for our lead associate role.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays

• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)

• Private healthcare with Bupa 

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%

• Life assurance

• Income protection

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements.  Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.  We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we can explore what might work best for both sides.

Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA - Life at the FCA

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

• This role is graded as: Lead Associate – Corporate

• Advert Closing Date: 6th February 2025

• First Round Competency based Interview: W/C 17th February

• Final Interview: W/C 24th February

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time. 

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact: 

• For internal applicants, please contact Sara Holland at [email protected]  

• For external applicants, please contact Ifrah Azam at [email protected]  

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted