Your new role

Joining as Interim Head of Contract Management, you will take charge of an evolving commercial environment — overseeing contract management across a complex supply chain and driving strategic development ahead of significant ramp-up. This role is hybrid, with three days per week on site in North Buckinghamshire, and offers a daily rate of up to £800 (inside IR35).

Key responsibilities:

Provide strategic leadership for the contract management team, setting standards and frameworks for performance, compliance and governance.

Liaise with the Commercial Working Group, contributing to decisions around work allocation and delivery responsibilities.

Lead the management of the Main Works and Civils contracts, ensuring readiness for large-scale infrastructure execution.

Assess the commercial function: identify future resourcing needs, skill gaps, and optimal team structure in anticipation of major delivery escalation in ~2 years.

Develop, refine, and implement NEC contract templates (especially Option C) to support streamlined contract administration.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams — such as Environmental Services — to shape clear, value-focused scopes of work.

Oversee complex contract drafting, negotiation, performance monitoring and dispute resolution.

Champion ethical procurement, innovation, health & safety, and value-for-money across all commercial activities

Support team development and maintain a collaborative, high-performing environment aligned to organisational behaviours and values.

What you'll need to succeed

• Extensive experience managing high-value contracts within public sector infrastructure, with direct or adjacent exposure to rail contracts and frameworks (e.g., NEC).
• Strong leadership credentials, capable of assessing, mentoring, and developing a contract management function for scale.
• A detailed understanding of contract law, regulatory requirements, and commercial risk allocation.
• Expertise in NEC Options (particularly Option C), along with stakeholder engagement across complex organisations.
• Strategic foresight and confidence managing ambiguity, change and supplier performance in a fast-moving programme context.

What you'll get in return

• Rate: Up to £800 per day
• IR35 Status: Inside IR35
• Contract type: Interim
• Working pattern: Hybrid, 3 days per week on site in North Buckinghamshire

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.