Contracts Manager

Base

Location:

You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations;
Reading, Andover, Slough, Thatcham, Portsmouth, Melksham, New Forest, or London

Salary: £51,600 - £77,400 + car /car allowance - if applicable + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

Reporting to the Senior Contract Manager within Procurement & Commercial for SEPD Services, this is a senior commercial role supporting one of the most strategically important and fast-growing areas of the business.

You'll lead commercial and contract management activity across a portfolio of Customer Operations and Large Connections projects, ensuring robust procurement strategies, contractual governance and supplier partnerships are in place to support the safe, efficient and timely delivery of critical infrastructure investment.

This is a highly visible role, working closely with stakeholders across Operations, Procurement, Commercial, Finance, Legal and our external supply chain. You'll provide commercial leadership, challenge and assurance, helping to manage cost, risk, change and supplier performance in an environment of increasing customer demand and network growth.

The role offers a unique opportunity to influence commercial delivery, strengthen supplier relationships and support the successful delivery of projects that are essential to the future of the electricity network across the south of England.

• Provide commercial advice, challenge and support to project teams, ensuring effective cost, risk, change and contract management controls.
• Develop and implement procurement and contracting strategies that deliver value, mitigate risk and support successful project outcomes.
• Manage NEC and other construction and engineering contracts throughout their lifecycle, from strategy development and contract award through to change management, claims, payment certification and final account settlement.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive performance, resolve commercial issues and support delivery against programme, budget and customer commitments.
• Deliver clear reporting and commercial insight, identifying risks, opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of commercial processes, contract management standards and supplier engagement across the wider business
• Review Applications for Payment and prepare Payment Notices and Final Accounts in line with contractual requirements.

• Significant experience leading commercial and contract management activities across complex project portfolios.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of NEC and other construction or engineering contracts throughout the full contract lifecycle.
• Experience managing commercial risk, change control, claims, payments and final account processes.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong commercial judgement, analytical capability and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear challenge, guidance and assurance in a collaborative way.

This is an opportunity to take on a senior commercial role in a fast-growing and highly visible part of the business. Customer Operations and Large Connections are central to enabling growth, supporting customers and delivering the infrastructure required for the energy transition. You will be joining a commercially focused team that has grown in confidence and capability, working in a supportive and collaborative way while maintaining the constructive challenge needed to deliver strong commercial outcomes, influence supplier performance and play a key role in improving how we deliver complex work across the south of England.

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our…