Job Description
Contract Governance Manager
Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
Department: Programme Management
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Flexible
Reporting To: Principal Contract Governance Manager
Compensation: £50,242 - £53,748 / year
Contract:
Full Time, 6-month fixed term contract.
Location:
National, hybrid. If London-based, 2 days a week expected in our London Office.
As Contract Governance Manager, you will play a central role in helping Frontline
manage contract governance for Approach Social Work, our national social work training programme, and other strategically important work where relevant.
You will lead significant areas of contract governance, helping to make sure responsibilities are clear, risks are understood, decisions are well evidenced, and actions are followed through. Your work will focus on Approach Social Work, while also supporting other DfE-funded or government-funded contracts if they become part of the team’s portfolio.
You will work closely with colleagues across Frontline to bring together information, support good decision-making and make sure the organisation is well prepared for important discussions with external partners, including the Department for Education.
You will need to understand the detail of contracts and programmes, while also seeing the bigger picture. This means translating complex information into clear advice, helping colleagues understand what needs to happen next, and making sure governance supports strong delivery rather than adding unnecessary process.
You will work closely with the wider Contract Governance team to make sure linked areas of work are joined up. You will also contribute to wider team priorities and ad hoc projects where your judgement, organisation and contract governance experience can help Frontline keep important work moving.
Key Responsibilities
Contract governance and oversight
- Lead key areas of contract governance for Approach Social Work and other strategically important contracts where relevant.
- Maintain a strong understanding of contractual responsibilities, reporting requirements, risks, decisions and actions.
- Support proportionate and practical governance, making sure processes help colleagues do important work well.
DfE and external stakeholder management
- Lead or support DfE-facing contract governance activity, making sure Frontline is well prepared for important discussions, updates and decisions.
- Work with colleagues to make sure Frontline’s position, evidence and next steps are clear before external meetings or submissions.
- Follow up external actions and decisions, making sure records are accurate and colleagues understand what needs to happen next.
Reporting, evidence and decision-making
- Prepare clear papers, briefings, updates and recommendations for senior colleagues and governance groups.
- Bring together information from across teams to provide a clear view of progress, risks, issues and decisions needed.
- Use contract information, data, evidence and professional judgement to support timely and well-informed decisions.
Risk, issue and change management
- Identify, track and escalate contract, delivery, partnership or governance risks at the right time.
- Work with colleagues to resolve issues practically and proportionately, keeping programme quality, contract responsibilities and Frontline’s mission in view.
- Support contract changes, approvals, variations or related governance
- processes where needed.
- Help Frontline respond well to changing requirements, external developments and emerging risks.
Team leadership and collaboration
- Work closely with colleagues leading partnership, regulatory and approval activity to make sure linked areas of work are joined up.
- Deputise for the Principal Contract Governance Manager where appropriate, including representing areas of work in meetings, updates or governance discussions.
- Provide line management for members of the Contract Governance team during periods of absence, parental leave or increased team need.
- Support wider Contract Governance priorities and ad hoc projects where your judgement, organisation and contract governance experience can add value.
- Help colleagues understand contract requirements, governance processes and external expectations in a clear and practical way.
Continuous improvement
- Identify opportunities to make contract governance, reporting and relationship management simpler, clearer and more effective.
- Improve tools, trackers, meeting rhythms and ways of working where this helps colleagues make better decisions or deliver more confidently.
- Use learning from contract delivery, external feedback and internal governance to strengthen how the team works over time.
For list of full responsibilities, please see the job pack
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Experience and Knowledge
- Experience of managing contract, governance, partnership, programme or project activity in a complex environment
- Experience of using contracts, agreements, policies or funding requirements to understand responsibilities, identify risks and support delivery
- Experience of working with senior internal stakeholders and external partners to support clear decisions and follow-through
- Experience of preparing clear papers, briefings, updates or recommendations for senior colleagues or governance groups
- Experience of using evidence, data and insight to monitor progress, identify issues and support improvement
- Experience of managing risks, issues, changes or dependencies across a project, programme, contract or partnership
- Experience of leading, line managing or supporting colleagues to prioritise work and deliver against shared goals
- Experience of working with government, public services, education, charities, regulated environments or government-funded programmes
- Knowledge, understanding or experience of children’s social care, social work education, higher education partnerships or professional regulation (Desirable)
Characteristics and Skills
- Able to use sound judgement, take ownership of complex work and escalate risks or decisions at the right time
- Confident leadership and relationship management skills, including the ability to support colleagues, give constructive feedback and work well with senior stakeholders and external partners
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and adapt your style for different audience
- Able to analyse information, evidence and competing perspectives to identify risks, options and practical next steps
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines and areas of responsibility without losing sight of the bigger picture
- Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to handle sensitive information carefully and produce accurate work to a high standard
- Practical and solution-focused, with the confidence to improve governance, reporting and ways of working without adding unnecessary process
- Comfortable working with ambiguity and change, while staying calm, thoughtful and focused on what needs to be done
- Able to use everyday digital tools, including Microsoft Office and generative AI, to support accurate, thoughtful and efficient work
Benefits
- Flexible working hours
- Competitive pension employer contribution
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + office closes from 25 Dec to 1 Jan
- Buy up to five days annual leave a year
- Interest free loan for season ticket
- Personal coaching and mentoring
- Cycle loan scheme
- Deposit loan scheme
- Volunteering days
- Employee assistance programme
- Life Assurance Scheme (x3 salary)
