Job Description

Do you want to shape the delivery of Scotland’s Census, enabling governments and other public bodies to plan the services we all rely on, and telling the story of Scotland's people for generations to come? If so, this post could be for you.

We have an opportunity for an existing B3 to join the Census Programme as a Commercial and Contract Manager, to support delivery of the programme .

We are the trusted producer of Scotland’s population statistics, including taking the Census of Scotland’s population every 10 years. The next Census is in 2031 and will be delivered in partnership with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). This is one of the largest digital programmes delivered in Scotland, gathering data from every household across a population of c.5.7m.

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

Reporting to the Head of Commercial and Contract Management, this position has specific responsibility for a portfolio of Census contracts, ensuring they optimise delivery, performance and provide value for money in a fast paced, funding pressured environment .

You should note that Scotland’s Census is a time limited project which will run until 2032 depending on the role. Staff who are on permanent contracts will remain with NRS after this time whilst a new, suitable role is found. Please contact the line manager named in this advert if you have any further questions.

Responsibilities

• Engage effectively with key stakeholders, which will include ONS Procurement and Contract Managers, to ensure the contracts are appropriately managed, supplier(s) performance is measured and reported and tangible contract outcomes are delivered.
• Manage the delivery of key contracts and multiple suppliers, promoting highly effective team working to ensure the contracts are delivered in accordance with requirements and obligations, specifically in relation to time, cost and quality, in order to meet operational and strategic goals.
• Build and manage the relationships with the suppliers, monitoring risk and individual supplier performance against the contract requirements and overall contract deliverables by the parties to demonstrate value for money and realise identified savings. Integral to this will be monitoring and reporting of costs in line with contract value, identifying potential savings, risks and opportunities throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Work collaboratively with the Census Procurement Specialist to ensure the smooth transition/handover of any new individual contracts and lead on the effective mobilisation of those contracts into the Programme, managing plans for completion of deliverables associated with the live running and of the contracts.
• Review, impact-assess and manage post contract award requests for changes under change control governance procedures. Working closely with ONS and/or NRS Census Procurement Specialist on non-performance/remediation issues and the negotiation of any requested contract changes and where this is an NRS Contract, prepare the change documentation for authorisation by Census Procurement Specialist.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B3 employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Selection Process

All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager.

Informal discussion dates tbc.

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact Beverley.Gardiner@nrscotland.gov.uk

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