Job summary
The current phase of investment for Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Programme will see � investment in new and refurbished school and college buildings across Wales.� Of this, � will be capital funding and � (capital equivalent) of revenue funding through the innovative finance Mutual Investment Model (MIM).� A further � has been committed for the next phase of the Programme.
1. The Contract Manager will act as the central point of contact for all Local Authorities/Further Education Institutions (delivery partners) involved in the Mutual Investment Model (MIM) element of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (SCfL) and to manage all centrally procured external advisers appointed on these projects which will include legal, technical, financial, hedge fund, and insurance advisors.
2. The Contract Manager will need to work with and will be accountable for the provision of sectoral support to education delivery partners to ensure that the Strategic Partnering Agreement and MIM Project Agreements are managed in an effective way that delivers high quality outcomes and value for money.
3. The Contract Manager will need to quickly establish a detailed knowledge of and be able to apply the terms of the Strategic Partnering Agreement and standard form template Project Agreement. As the Programme�s contract management expert resource, the Contract Manager will need a detailed understanding of MIM principles and risk transfer, have clear knowledge of each project specific Project Agreement, have the ability to assist education delivery partners to challenge Project Co�s self-monitoring information, annual service charge invoicing and hold contractors accountable for any poor performance against their contractual obligations.
4. Education delivery partners will require expert advice and guidance from the Contract Manager at each stage in the procurement timeline of their project. The Contract Manager will be required to develop, implement, and maintain internal processes and procedures to support the provision of this advice and guidance.
Job description
The post holder will need to hold the following knowledge and skills:
5. Extensive programme and contract management skills gained through managing complex construction projects including innovative funding models such as Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Public Private Partnership (PPP).
6. Proven ability to interrogate and understand complex contracts, including performance standards and payment mechanisms. Effective time management and prioritisation skills with the ability to set objectives and meet deadlines.
7. Outstanding relationship management skills and personal credibility with senior stakeholders in the construction sector.
8. Procurement and leadership expertise to appoint and successfully manage legal, technical, financial, hedge fund and insurance advisors.
9. The ability to secure the best value for money for the public sector client through the commercial process whilst delivering and financing complex construction projects through private sector delivery models.
10. Ability to work under pressure in driving forward competing priorities to meet deadlines.
11. Ability to understand and successfully manage complex project risk matrices enabling successful outcomes.
12. Able to understand and interpret for successful delivery commercial, financial, technical, and legal data from a range of sources, considering the impact across multi-stakeholders, and successfully negotiate the best value for money for the public sector.
13. Influencing and persuasion skills at a senior (director and CEO) level.
14. Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, and the ability to communicate appropriately with a range of stakeholders, both verbally and with written reports, to achieve desired outcomes.
15. Ability to articulate detailed legal/technical provisions in concise, non-technical terms.
16. Ability to informally train and mentor less experienced staff.
17. Commitment to equality and diversity.
18. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products, including Word and Excel
Person specification
Pre-Financial Close:
19. Act as the single point of contact for all education delivery partner queries when scoping their New Project Requests and proceeding through the business case steps; SOC, OBC and FBC approval points.
20. Review and approve, on behalf of Welsh Government, all derogations to the technical and legal standard form template documents as part of the business case review processes.
21. Regularly report internally to the Welsh Government�s Programme Director on the progress of each project.
22. Proactively assist education delivery partners in resolving significant project specific technical, commercial, and financial issues which are preventing a project from progressing to financial close within agreed budget caps.
23. Help education delivery partners to prepare for and gather knowledge, to ensure that post contract signature, there is sufficient understanding of both the legal and technical documentation to allow the Project Agreement to be managed smoothly and efficiently during the consequent stages.
��Construction Phase:
24. Assist education delivery partners to monitor construction against Project Co�s Proposals, the Authority�s Construction Requirements, and the Programme on site.
25. Provide expert support to the education delivery partners on any significant issues arising from the following �business as usual� processes during the construction phase:
At Service Availability and the following 12 months:
Provide expert assistance to the education delivery partners in the run up to Service Availability on each project to ensure that contractors comply with their contractual obligations and are held to account if they do not.
This will require experience and knowledge of, and to provide assistance to, education delivery partners on:
26. the role of the Independent Tester.
27. level of client involvement during acceptance tests.
28. approach to acceptance including defining snagging as opposed to unfinished works.
29. enforcing the snagging process.
30. Soft Landings and training.
31. Building User Guide and O&Ms.
32. commissioning and recommissioning.
33. optimisation of the building performance.
34. post occupancy evaluation; and
35. mobilisation and management of Facilities Management services, including managing performance against specification/contract.
Post Service Availability:
During the Operational Phase, the Contract Manager will provide specialist support to education delivery partners in the following areas:
36. Ongoing management of Facilities Management services, including managing performance against specification/contract.
37. The link between snagging/unavailability and performance shortfalls.
38. The delivery of the Building Performance Evaluation and ongoing Post Occupancy Evaluation.
39. Recommissioning and optimising the Building Performance.
40. Energy monitoring usage and consumption and setting the ongoing performance targets for energy consumption following the bedding in period.
41. Operation of the Payment Mechanism and application of deductions.
42. Availability
43. Service Performance
44. Escalation Events
45. Authority Damage
46. Authority Changes
47. Permitted small value changes
48. Small value changes
49. Medium value changes
50. High value changes
51. ProjectCo management of subcontractors
52. Addressing the Welsh Government specific requirements on monitoring and reporting on MIM schemes as they arise
53. Monitoring classification risk
Memberships
Do you hold full membership of a relevant professional body, such as Chartered Property/Construction?
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
54. Making Effective Decisions
55. Delivering at Pace
56. Managing a Quality Service
57. Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
58. An in-depth working understanding of the context of asset lifecycle appraisal and how this impacts on stakeholders.
59. Please provide details of your full membership of a relevant profession body and how you have maintained your continuous learning.
Benefits
60. Learning and development tailored to your role
61. An environment with flexible working options
62. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
63. A with an average employer contribution of 27%