About the role
The Contract Officer is part of a small team responsible for commissioning and delivering the Home to School Transport Service through a range of Providers and maintaining accurate records of provision and contracts. The postholder will be required to manage the contracts including investigating and resolving complaints about the contract delivery, such as late running, or incorrect billing. The postholder will be expected to develop effective working relationships with, and liaise between, operators and educational establishments.
What will you be doing?
You will be working together with colleagues from across the Home to School Transport team to make sure that the services delivered by our contractors are meeting the contract requirements. You will commission and mobilise contracts through our online procurement system. There will be lots of telephone calls, and emails, and you will be expected to be able to build effective relationships with the contractors and other stakeholders to support the delivery of a safe and effective service, which meets the needs of the service users whilst also ensuring that the contracts are delivering best value for the Council. You will need to ensure that our records are maintained accurately, so that contracts can be let efficiently and all providers are paid promptly. You may be involved in disputes over amounts due to be paid, or standards of service delivered, and you will need to tactful but resilient, to get the best outcome for all parties.
About you
You will have previous experience of contract management function in a multiple provider environment, and/or experience of stakeholder and relationship management in a contract management environment, together with experience with working with databases and procurement systems. You will have the ability to write, analyse and interpret detailed/complex reports from various data sources, and to explain your findings to a variety of audiences. Your attention to detail will help you to maintain accurate records and monitor performance against budgets to ensure effective monthly forecasting, ensuring that physical resources are allocated effectively and that service users receive the services that they need. Familiarity with Home to School transport, and an understanding of SEND, Children’s Services, or Adults Social Care would be a great advantage.
Our benefits
We offer:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (27 days, rising to 32 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
About us
We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.
Our priorities are:
- helping people live active fulfilled lives
- caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
- enabling a thriving and successful economy
- leading on a green and sustainable environment
- ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
- providing modern public services
Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.
Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.
We are undertaking consultation with the Trade Unions on terms and conditions and the future NNC pay structure and during this time are appointing new employees on interim spot salaries. You will be advised of the outcome and any impact on your role once this work is complete.
Attached documents
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