IT Contracts & Procurement Lead

In an attempt to drive out greater value and performance from IT, my client is undertaking a transformation that will ultimately see two separate and significant ICT departments become one. This will of course require a degree of rationalisation to remove duplication between the two environments. It will also require a significant number of new technology solutions be developed and implemented from Datacentre to mobile apps. We are seeking a IT Supplier Relationship Manager with experience of effective supplier management to drive value for money and cost savings in a highly transformational environment. You will lead on the identification, selection, management and review of contracts in respect of third party ICT suppliers to ensure our client gets the best value from these contracts while receiving a service that reaches the Service Levels agreed. Ideally you will have experience of operating in a mergers and acquisitions environment as a large amount of organisational change is also underway in this business.

This is a twelve month fixed term contract in the public sector.

Key Accountabilities:

To work with other ICT managers to identify and specify the needs for third party contracts to meet clear business requirements.

To work closely with ICT managers and procurement to identify, review and select suppliers that will deliver to the business need and service levels agreed and to best-value.

To establish and monitor service level agreements with third party suppliers to ensure that a high level of service is delivered for our client.

To review the contracts annually to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that proper financial payments and penalties, where appropriate, are agreed to reflect the service levels delivered by the supplier.

To influence Procurement in the development of policies, processes and practices to ensure that the agreements and contracts drawn up for ICT are fit for purpose and recognize the distinct features evident in this area.

To act as a central point of contact for supplier relations keeping all parties informed of the terms and progress of the contact and negotiating with external and internal stakeholders to ensure that contracts are understood and implemented in full or that they are renegotiated to meet changes agreed in the business.

To align contracts and suppliers to the strategic needs of ICT and the wider business.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

It is essential that the post holder has:

Considerable experience in the methods and techniques for negotiating contracts for the supply of IT products and services including presenting business cases, invitations to tender and statements of requirements both orally and in writing.

Considerable experience working with and managing the performance of software, service and infrastructure suppliers with evidence of a track record delivering against a broad range of requirements.

Degree or equivalent and considerable MCIPS/CITP qualified or equivalent.

Ability to effectively communicate technical issues to non-specialists and to present complex technical or contractual information to senior stakeholders in an engaging and persuasive manner.

The ability to effectively chair meetings that may include specialist and non-specialist members.

Experience of ensuring specific IT related requirements are included within contractual supplier negotiations including health and safety standards, departmental programming and accessibility standards, organisational network performance standards, service desk procedures, corporate quality and change management processes, ITIL.

Proven experience with Principles, methods, techniques and tools for the preparation and monitoring of budgets to minimise costs and ensure cost-effectiveness.