Contract Management Assurance Officer

This role supports the effective assessment, reporting and management of Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) Service contractual delivery and performance. Training will be provided. The position is a 12‑month secondment with potential extension and is based in the central PECS office.

• Ensure quality assurance procedures for contracts are effective.
• Provide support to contract managers and stakeholders.
• Report the effectiveness of processes on risk, financial MI and people strategy.
• Coordinate internal and external audits of contract management as part of the Governance & risk team.
• Develop and maintain a contract management control framework.
• Act as system administrator for the GRC system, including setting up new users and maintaining an up‑to‑date list of user access permissions.
• Publish policies, design and publish questionnaires, and manage action functions.
• Maintain an effective policy review schedule for all policies published on the GRC system.
• Respond to queries via the team functional mailbox.
• Collate management information for contracts and complete gold contract scorecards.
• Handle straightforward supplier issues.
• Support office administration processes, including meeting minutes.
• Prepare relevant statistical performance data and reports for the team.
• Represent the Systems and Contact Management Assurance Team at relevant meetings and events.
• Carry out any other duties as requested by the Portfolio Manager or Head of the team.

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

• Good communication skills (both written and oral) and digital competence.
• Good understanding of HMPPS strategic direction with the ability to influence others professionally.
• Experience of problem solving to deliver required outcomes.
• Foundation level knowledge of public sector contracts and understanding of contractual boundaries and obligations.

• Proven ability to be self‑motivating and demonstrate experience of escalating challenges to contribute to successful outcomes.
• Proven ability to develop productive relationships in both a contractual environment and with diverse stakeholders.
• Reasonable competence with Excel, including using charts to visualise data and experience working with management information.
• Ability to manage uncertainty and respond flexibly to a changing environment.

MoJ offers hybrid working arrangements where business need allows. This role can only be worked in the UK.

The holiday year runs from 1 March. Bank, public and privilege holidays are 9 days. Leave is calculated on a pro‑rata basis.

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. All external candidates are subject to 6‑months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS. All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist.