Contracts & Business Manager
- Southwark, South East London
- £59,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirementsApplication closing date: 04 September 2025 @ 2359
Before applying, please read the application instructions belowOverview of project/roleJoin Transport for London as a Contracts and Business Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of London's surface transport network.In this dynamic position, you'll be responsible for the commercial and contractual management of high-value agreements, cost centre management and administration of business operations that directly contribute toward keeping our colleagues and customers safe. You'll work closely with suppliers, finance teams and operational teams to ensure our Directorate is run in an efficient, cost effective way. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the safety and security of the world's most complex and vital transport systems, ensuring London remains connected, safe, and efficient.You'll play a key role in managing relationships with our policing partners including the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, as well as external suppliers that support TfL's Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security (CPOS) functions. You'll focus on ensuring these agreements deliver real value for Londoners. Alongside this, you'll lead on CPOS cost centre management, including budget management, headcount controls, and business operations processes ensuring our Operations Officers are fully equipped and supported to work on the transport network.This is a unique and exciting role spanning contract management, financial management and business operations. As such, we are looking for candidates who have experience of either contract management or experience of financial management.Key AccountabilitiesYour duties will include, but not be limited to:
- Management of CPOS contractual agreements, including commercial management of third party technology and operational agreements, such as our agreements with the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Service, ensuring value for money by supporting performance reviews, updates, and variations
- Leading on cost centre management of CPOS internal costs, working collaboratively across the Directorate to manage budget forecasting, cost centre variance analysis, headcount control processes, and year-end processes, in close collaboration with finance teams
- Financial management of CPOS contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), including budget setting, invoice reviews, cost variance analysis, and year-end processes in close collaboration with finance teams
- Informing end-to-end procurement activities for CPOS Contracts - leading on business case development, service requirement design, and supplier engagement and evaluation
- Act as the SAP Data Management Primary Gatekeeper for CPOS, advising on structural changes and providing guidance to managers and business units on SAP-related matters
- Manage and develop a high-performing team delivering commercial, financial and administrative support, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth
- Take ownership of delegated projects from the Senior Contracts and Business Operations Manager, ensuring timely and effective delivery
- Operate with autonomy and influence, building strong relationships across TfL and with external policing partners to support service delivery and strategic goals
- Handle sensitive information with discretion, maintaining confidentiality and demonstrating political awareness in all communications and decision-making
- Excellent time management skills, ability to prioritise tasks, respond positively to pressure and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment whilst maintaining a strong focus on accuracy (essential)
- Excellent communication skills - verbal and written across all levels
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to interact with staff in a range of areas and organisations, and at different levels (senior managers and operational staff) (essential)
- Strong customer focus, influencing and negotiating skills (essential)
- Excellent IT skills - MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint) (essential)
- Educated to graduate level and / or equivalent work experience in: public sector contract management / public sector business management / finance / or other relevant field (essential)
- Knowledge of best practice in relation to the management of high-value or complex 3rd party contracts (essential)
- A good knowledge of Surface Transport's organisation, culture and structure as well as TfL processes (desirable)
- Knowledge and understanding of the major issues affecting the provision of policing and/or the transport services in London (desirable)
- Good practice in Policing / Transport and/or Public Sector (desirable)
- Experience of managing inter-organisational relationships and contract and/or supplier management (essential)
- Experience managing, developing and leading staff in an environment where there is a high degree of ongoing change (essential)
- Expertise in the use of business management software for procurement / accountancy /contract management / or HR purposes (essential)
- Experience working in partnership with and/or within at least one of the following fields - crime prevention, community safety, transport policing, transport or similar public sector environment (desirable)
- Please apply using your CV and a one-page covering letter
- Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV and cover letter
- PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images
- Final salary pension scheme
- Free travel for you on the TfL network
- Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
- 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
- TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
- Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
- Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
- Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
- Discounted Eurostar travel