Contract Support Officer - Preston

Contract Support Officer Overview

Accountable to a designated Senior Contract Manager (SCM), the Contract Support Officer (CSO) supports efficient and effective contract management in the North West community integration area. The role involves supporting Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, working with local contract management teams, Operational and System Assurance Group, and delivering the annual Service Operational Audit Plan. It is an offender facing role, engaging with service users to understand their views of the services received.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide secretariat support to Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers, including Service Management Board, Contract Strategy Board, and Change Management Board.
• Arrange and distribute agendas, papers, and produce first draft minutes and action logs.
• Maintain formal documentation, terms of reference, membership lists, and enforce version control.
• Follow up with action owners for updates, file, archive and manage documentation.
• Support the local contract management team and OSAG in delivering the annual assurance programme, including operational audits, data analysis, sample testing of provider performance and observations of provider activities.
• Review and monitor performance data for designated providers.
• Assist Senior Contract Managers and Service Managers with ongoing contract management activities, e.g., follow up requests for information, scheduling ad hoc meetings.
• Conduct research and analysis activities, such as reviewing stakeholder surveys, analysing management information trends, developing good practice case studies, reporting on risk and monitoring third party commissioned services.
• Support the National Strategic Contract Management team and national supplier level management through liaison, consultation, and information sharing.
• Provide information to Director / MoJ and other stakeholders as required.
• Ensure changes to data requirements are approved by the Data Gateway Services protocol.
• Drive effective contract oversight by supporting governance forums and key decision making boards.
• Analyse performance and data trends to identify risks, issues and improvement opportunities.
• Lead coordination and organisation of high level meetings, action tracking and reporting.
• Contribute to service improvement, capturing insights from stakeholders and service users to influence better outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Good understanding of HMPPS strategic direction.
• Strong confidence and professional representation skills across a range of stakeholders.
• Sound skills in managing effective relationships within a contractual and political environment.
• Knowledge of project and programme management techniques.
• Excellent prioritisation, risk management and task completion under appropriate support.
• Problem solving, planning and communication skills.
• Strong numeracy and IT skills, with the ability to present reports both written and verbally.
• Attention to detail and strong networking capabilities.
• Experience working with public, private, social enterprise, charitable, voluntary and community sector organisations.
• Strong analytical, research and evaluation skills to assess gaps and concerns in provision.
• Self motivation and ability to work in a dispersed team.
• Business support and/or secretariat experience, including minute taking for high level meetings.
• Commitment to valuing and promoting diversity and delivering excellence in a changing environment.
• Integrity and adherence to organisational priorities in the face of competing pressures.

Technical Requirements

No specific qualifications are essential; experience and qualifications relevant to contract support and contract management are desirable.

Location

Diadem House, Preston PR2 2YB (with travel across the North West, including occasional travel to London).

Equal Opportunity - Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, the Ministry of Justice is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, and to make adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace.