Strategic PFI Contracts Manager

West Northamptonshire Council is looking for a contracts or assets manager with experience of managing PFI projects. You will be responsible for managing one of the largest education PFI contracts in the country including forty three schools and another large all through school. Both projects are based in Northampton.

The Individual will provide strategic estates management advice and direction to the Council’s schools directorate in developing a range of key strategies and delivery plans collaborating closely with a wide range of stakeholders.

They will ensure the successful commercial and performance delivery of adult care and schools PFI contracts with an overall value of over a billion pound. To ensure that there is robust governance of the contracts ensuring compliance and engagement of key stakeholders.

Employees can look forward to working as part of an inviting and friendly team working together to ensure the contractors perform well. 

Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early due to the volume of applications.

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

What will you be doing?

The manager will lead a team of finance support, contract administration, contract performance and surveying staff to provide good governance and challenge to PFI contractors. Engagement with customers will be critical to ensuring that the services being provided enable schools to operate safely, securely and that the curriculum is delivered.

You will have regular engagement with contractors to ensure that services are being delivered as required. There will be occasions when you need to represent the Council at key national and local forums regarding the contracts.  

About you

Individuals will have a clear understanding and experience of the complex PFI commercial contracts and have the same objectives of ensure that the contracts provide best value to its customers and the taxpayers of West Northamptonshire. There are exciting but challenging times ahead with one contract coming to the end of its expiry and another not too late after.

Individuals will have degree level qualification equivalenting either building surveying, construction project management, contract management or management supported by experience working with PFI projects.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by our DEI staff network group - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.