Contract Manager

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment?  Are you looking a role where you can utilise your organisational skills and build effective supplier and operational relationships?

As National Records of Scotland (NRS) Contract Manager you will support the delivery of a commercial and contract management service to improve commercial and contract management capability and outcomes across key contracts within NRS.  You will provide advice and guidance to the operational business, develop successful supplier relationships and deliver best value commercial outcomes. 

Lead contract and supplier management activities on medium to high value, medium to high-risk contracts.  

Responsibilities

• Lead and assist the development and implementation of contract management plans, compliance and obligations matrices.
• Work with a range of stakeholders, ensuring effective participation and buy-in of the Contract Management Strategy. 
• Lead contract management and performance monitoring, to deliver enduring thru-life value-for-money solutions and deliver quarterly savings and benefit reports. 
• Monitor supplier performance against KPIs, to deliver successful outcomes (time, cost, performance).
• Maintain effective contract management information systems, contract documentation and audit trails.
• Undertake contract and supplier reviews.
• Provide timely feedback on supplier performance issues and successes to project leads.
• Lead contract enforcement through identifying considerations, identifying performance trends, evaluating non-conformance, dispute resolution, and identifying enforcement tools and remedies.

Qualifications

This is a specialist role which requires evidence of a commitment towards continuous professional development, including external, advanced level professional accreditation of CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma, WCC Advanced Practitioner Certification or relevant equivalent*; or a commitment to attaining such an accreditation once in post.

*Equivalent’ may include accreditation from another relevant professional body or a relevant academic qualification at degree or post graduate level. Significant evidenced experience operating and delivering at an advanced level may be considered as equivalent when accompanied by a commitment to attaining an accreditation once in post..

Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills:

• 1. Commercial Competence     Level 3: Practitioner
• 2. Continuous Improvement    Level 3: Practitioner
• 3. Legislation                               Level 4: Expert
• 4. Self-Development                  Level 3: Practitioner

You can find out more about the skills required here: Scottish Procurement Competency Framework Experience

1. Proven track record in the delivery of the full end-to-end public procurement cycle, including contract and supplier management.
2. Established interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder management skills with experience of building and maintaining relationships at all levels and working in collaboration with internal and external colleagues. A proven ability to articulate commercial issues clearly and succinctly to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
3. Robust analytical skills with the ability to draw out key messages and findings to make recommendations and/or support decisions.

Behaviours:

1. Leadership – Level 3
2. Delivering at Pace – Level 3 

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
 

Other Profession Information

The procurement competency framework sets out the common standard across the public sector in Scotland and details the capability requirements for this post.
 

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 3 November 2025, however this may be subject to change.

About us

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

NRS is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government & and our staff are part UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide. 

Equality statementWe are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For further information about this vacancy, please contact Beverley Gardiner at Beverley.Gardiner@nrscotland.gov.uk