The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

Are you a brilliant Contract Manager who creates a collaborative team environment but isn’t afraid of disruptive ideas to improve efficiency and wellbeing?

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience leading large PPP or PFI contracts.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and data-driven skills.
• A focus on governance, compliance, and risk management.
• The ability to communicate effectively and build strong professional networks.
• A continuous improvement mindset, implementing innovative solutions for effective service delivery.

Estates and Facilities Management (EFM) is instrumental to the University of Sheffield’s strategic vision, providing high-quality, sustainable campus environments. Within this portfolio, Accommodation Services manages a complex residential estate, ensuring students have safe, well-maintained places to live.

We have created this new role to provide dedicated leadership for the University’s long-term PPP student accommodation contract, ensuring best value and operational performance. Additionally, you will oversee smaller FM contracts to ensure they meet EFM standards and represent value for money.

You are an excellent leader, capable of making informed judgments and empowering others. You will analyze performance data to strengthen service delivery and draw on sector best practice to bring forward innovative ideas for managing contractual responsibilities.

You will join an employer that values equality, diversity, and inclusion and supports staff to grow and progress. We offer a competitive salary and a generous pension scheme, along with a commitment to your professional development in a supportive, forward-thinking environment.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide managerial responsibility and leadership for contract management activity within Estates and Facilities Management and Accommodation Services, including oversight of resourcing, workload and line management of Contract Officers/Managers.
• Agree prioritisation of contract workloads, identify development needs, provide day-to-day guidance, coaching and support to the team.
• Review and negotiate a range of FM contracts, ensuring the University’s interests are protected and contractual obligations met.
• Enable pragmatic decision making across the team, ensuring contractual risks are understood, assessed and communicated, identifying mitigation measures while ensuring operational colleagues understand their responsibilities.
• Agree and articulate measures of contract performance, using KPIs, contractor reports and service feedback to track progress, identify issues and deliver continuous improvement to meet service user needs.
• Use data, contract information and stakeholder feedback to streamline processes, integrate activities and simplify workflows to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of contract management across EFM.
• Utilise innovative and modern approaches to develop and implement process improvements, driving better value, stronger compliance and more effective contractor performance.
• Actively promote cross-departmental collaboration within EFM and other University services, identifying priorities, resolving issues and developing improved approaches to contract and supplier management.
• Lead on complex contractual or operational issues, engaging with colleagues across the University to provide advice, highlight risks and make evidence-based recommendations. This may include writing reports, chairing meetings or leading discussions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor developments in the external FM, PPP and regulatory environments to ensure appropriate standards, legislation and protocols are reflected in EFM contract management activities, briefing team members and updating procedures as required.
• Attend, contribute to and chair relevant working groups, ensuring contract management considerations are represented.
• Maintain an active external professional network to share best practice, benchmark performance and positively influence sector approaches to estates and FM contract management.
• Act as an authorised signatory with delegated authority, in accordance with the University's governance and financial regulations, for relevant EFM contracts and variations.
• Embed the University’s sustainability strategy in all contract-related decision-making, promoting ethical and environmentally responsible approaches to procurement, performance and lifecycle delivery.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within 2 weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact admin-engmain@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page:- sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Baseline personnel security standard

This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.