Contract Officer

Are you looking for a fresh challenge, working with a friendly and dedicated team who are committed to driving positive change in a fast-paced environment? If you have knowledge or experience of contract management, strong communication skills and can work with people at all levels, the role of Contract Officer could be for you!

About the Service

Commercial Services - Infrastructure is responsible for the procurement and contract management of numerous support services contracts. Its extensive work programme covers a diverse range of procurement and contract management projects. The team is responsible for ensuring contracts are commissioned, procured, and managed effectively.

The team offers a friendly and welcoming environment, and new starters are offered a comprehensive induction programme and mentoring opportunities are available. The team has successfully embraced the Smarter Working Policy and operates on a mixture of home and office-based working, embracing a healthy work-life balance. The team’s nominal work location is the modern premises of Lancaster House, situated on the main County Council campus in the heart of Lincoln’s historic city centre.

About the Team

The Contract Management Team is responsible for ensuring that the Council secures the benefits offered by the Corporate Support Services contract.

The Contract Officer plays a critical role in holding the service provider to account for delivery, supporting the development of service improvements and monitoring contractual performance. The postholder is responsible for processing contract invoices and other payments and modelling financial performance. The role is diverse and challenging and requires a very high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. It provides an opportunity to work on one of the Council's largest contracts.

About You

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual capable of working both autonomously and as part of a team with the ability to be calm under pressure. You will have excellent analytical skills, tenacity, and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the Council and externally. You will be required to manage demanding and competing priorities, and work to tight deadlines. You will be confident with numbers, and ideally have experience using financial systems. You may have experience of procurement and/ or contract management, or you may be very motivated to develop in this area. Either way, we welcome your interest.

Our comprehensive range of additional benefits for this post include:

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, widely recognised as one of the leading contributory pension schemes on the market

• Annual leave entitlement of 28 days (increased after 5 years’ continuous local government service), together with Bank Holidays and the option to purchase additional leave

• Varied local and national discount schemes, plus cycle to work and green car leasing initiatives

• ‘Smarter Working’ - flexible working patterns encompassing home and office-based working, and flexi-time

• Comprehensive wellbeing offer for all staff, including dedicated occupational health support

• Professional support, learning and development, with internal and external training opportunities and the payment of one professional subscription per annum where appropriate

Next Steps

If you would like to know more, including what it’s like to work here, why not contact the current postholder in the first instance: email Alison.Andrews@lincolnshire.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion.

Closing Date: 12th March 2023

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working between home and work will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements including regularity of home and office working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.