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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary is £35,335 - £37,847. London salary is £40,014 - £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
10-Apr-2026
Post Type
Fixed Term, Detached Duty, Loan
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
16160

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview

The MoJ Property Directorate is a customer focused organisation that exists to enable our customers to perform to their very best.  We do this by providing high quality, easy to use services, and working environments that our customers want to work in, which support them to deliver their individual outputs efficiently.  Our job is to manage one of the most diverse and complex estates in Government – hosted by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).  The MoJ Property Directorate brings together a property portfolio including Prisons, Probation, and MoJ HQ and Arm’s Length Bodies.  We also provide property services on behalf of the Home Office.

MoJ Property provides specialist services including facilities management, health and safety, fire safety and security, technical design expertise, and sustainability.  We also have business management teams who support the entire Directorate and each of our partners is supported by account management teams.  We are responsible for a great deal - our portfolio consists of properties valued at £8.5bn for the MoJ alone.  We are part of the Government Property Profession (GPP) and through active membership and engagement we will work with the Office of Government Property to develop the maturity of the profession and also encourage our people to join the GPP. We continue to build our capability through training and recruitment, aspiring to be the best that we can be as individuals and as a directorate.

We continue to deliver new ways of working across our portfolio – leading on the scale and pace of activity for central government – proposing ways to achieve, and then providing more dynamic and flexible workspace, while driving down the cost of the estate.

Team Overview

The Contract Administration Manager (CAM) ensures that work is being administered in the region as required under the provisions of the contract, including a strong focus on ensuring governance is taking place with correct documentation, measures, management information and reporting arrangements. The Contract Administration Manager (CAM) will report to the Admin and Assurance Hub Manager and work within the contract administration management team as well as the East and West Midlands contract management teams.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include the following:

  • Managing contract administration to enable efficient processes to be operated consistently across the region including ensuring that all necessary governance and delegations are in place.  
  • Day to day working closely with Regional Property Operations Manager (RPOM) and Area Property Operations Managers (APOMs) to ensure that in operating processes all necessary governance (e.g. assurance and checks) are consistently carried out and that deadlines are met
  • Management of the contract management system, CEMAR, ensuring all notices, including Task Orders, Early Warning Notices (EWNs) etc. are being raised efficiently and accurately and ensuring the timely closure of notices. Responsible for validating monthly payment applications which flows from the CEMAR system.
  • Ensure Management Information (MI) data is being provided and maintained and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) data is up to date and readily available  
  • Monitor EWN’s to ensure they are being addressed and ensure mitigation plans and risk register including early warning matters are in place and maintained.  
  • Monitor devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation to the RPOM and APOMs and reporting of budgets and spend. 
  • Collaboration and liaison with other parties within MOJ including finance and commercial and attend meetings when required  
  • Management of contract administration and administration support (through line managed business administrators) for the region including management of contract administration performance and individual‐based coaching, development and performance management.  
  • Responsible for producing reports and collating returns as requested by the Head of Property Services Regional Support Team, RPOM and centrally within MOJ Property.  
  • Responsible for producing Change Board submissions, ensuring deadlines are met. Play an active role in monitoring projects, liaising with the Minor Capital Project Management office (PMO) and the providers project management team.

Expectations of post holder in executing the role

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

  • You seek and analyse information to inform decisions based on the best available evidence.
  • You convert resources into results in the most efficient and economical way.
  • You are confident to lead a team and can effectively manage team dynamics to drive forward a shared goal. You take into consideration everyone’s individual needs and create a genuine team spirit.

Skills and Experience

Essential 

  • The job holder must have or be able to rapidly acquire excellent understanding of the Team’s key contracts. (Managing a Quality Service)
  • Commercial and financial awareness are key requirements. (Managing a Quality Service)
  • Essential to have strong drive and resilience, leadership and interpersonal skills and ability to work accurately under pressure. (Leadership)
  • Essential to have effective team management skills. (Communicating and Influencing)
  • Essential to have experience of managing risks and issues in contract management/contract administration, project or other settings. (Managing a Quality Service)
  • Must have good analytical and IT skills. (Making Effective Decisions)

Highly Desirable

  • Ability to work with minimal supervision, taking responsibility for outcomes
  • Awareness of Government Property Profession

Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates. 

Behaviours

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Managing a Quality Service (lead behaviour)
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework 

Please refer to the essential criteria above, which sets out how these will be assessed.

Sift

Behaviours - Please provide a 250-word example of how you have met the following lead behaviour:

  • Managing a Quality Service (lead behaviour)
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing

Experience – Please provide an anonymised CV

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Managing a Quality Service.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams.

During the interview, we will be assessing you on the Behaviours listed below and Strengths (not shared in advance) from the Success Profiles framework:

  • Managing a Quality Service (lead behaviour)
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing

If you’d like further information about the role, please contact Nicky Turner – nicky.turner@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference - 16160

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Not expected before week commencing 27th April 2026
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.