JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Head of Commercial Contract Management to join our Commercial Function within the Corporate group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

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)
• 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

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

The role is responsible for driving best practice for a portfolio of gold and silver contracts, in the categorise of Digital and Technology, Corporate, Facilities Management and Scientific, and to deliver value for money and manage risk over the full contract lifecycle, this includes setting the direction and leading delivery of MHRA contract management strategy for all tiers of contracts. The portfolio will include contracts for complex services in markets where there may be few providers and a high degree of interdependency with the supplier (concessions contracts).
Driving maximum value from the contract and managing the commercial consequences of change are important aspects of this role, which demands strong and challenging relationships with stakeholders and suppliers. The job holder will be expected to be a co-leader in managing key supplier relationships with the Senior Responsible Owners (SRO) and ensure that plans are implemented to encourage innovation, maintain a robust performance management regime, and ensure adequate investment by the business areas in contract, supplier and service management.
The role should be seen as comparable in standing to a supplier key account manager. This role will require cross functional working, not only with business areas and suppliers but with other areas of Finance to include the transactional procurement team. The role also requires effective and efficient management of the Atamis contract management tool, inspiring and supporting staff, and supporting other Commercial team members with procurement activity when workloads are unbalanced.
The post holder will also have a strong grasp of public sector procurement as they are called upon to drive delivery of procurements and renewals of contracts as required by the Agency.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Apply recommendations from internal audit reviews and Government Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework (CCIAF) improvement plan to order to implement best practice approach to contract management, aligned with the National Audit Office/ Cabinet Office principles and reflective of DHSC best practice, in a resilient and consistent manner to monitor and manage supplier performance, compliance to Procurement Regulations 2023.
• Align contract management processes with wider organizational governance processes, operational boards, Primary Service Level Agreements, and risk structures.
• Work with internal stakeholders responsible for contract management of Gold and Silver contracts to develop tailored strategies for individual contracts to ensure delivery of the goods or services at the standards, performance and cost as agreed in the contract, and provide clarity on commercial dependencies and obligations on all parties.
• Provide guidance and implement contract management best practice so that contract managers will understand importance and their accountability for all contract changes, ensuring that change management processes are followed and that the commercial consequences of change are properly controlled.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required