Highways PFI Deputy Contract Manager (Commercial Manager)

Reference: JAN20221997

Location: Civic Offices, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth

Job type: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: Band 14 (£59,106 to £65,123) plus market supplement of £2,786 pa.

Closing date: 14 February 2022

Portsmouth City Council – Highways PFI Contract

At Portsmouth City Council we’re all about developing our staff, because we want to build a bigger and better city and we need the best employees to do so.

As a unitary authority, the council’s key objective is to provide best in class services, customer care and on-going regeneration of the city for its 207,000 residents and 7,000 businesses. From the delivery of essential services to multi-million pound projects, our residents are at the heart of everything we do; providing outstanding highway services forms an integral part of that best in class service delivery agenda.

Background

Portsmouth City council entered into a twenty five year long Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Contract in 2004 with a private sector Service Provider partner; it was a “pathfinder” contract for the rehabilitation, upgrade, maintenance and operation of 455km of publicly maintainable highways in the City. It is the single largest contract procured by the Council worth approximately £0.6bn.

The Role

The Highways PFI contract is now entering a new phase as it approaches handback in March 2030 and the Council is now planning to make three key appointments to manage the delivery of services, handback and post-PFI procurement.

Deputy Contract Manager – Commercial (Commercial Manager)

The Council is also seeking to appoint the second deputy to the Contract Manager to lead on the scrutiny all commercial aspects and performance management of all the highway assets in the project network.

Qualified Accountant (CIMA, CIPFA or similar), Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) or equivalent with commercial experience in managing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and/or strategic long-term service delivery based contracts. Ability to interpret contractual reports, financial models and complex contractual/legal requirements into operational principles is essential, so is understanding of PFI contract or Term-maintenance contract forms and performance management. Basic knowledge of highways maintenance (standards, local authority responsibilities and practices) would be an advantage.

They will be a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Management Accountant, Chartered Institute Public Finance and Accountancy or Chartered Surveyor, educated to degree level with minimum ten years post-chartered experience. The post holder will report to the Contract Manager and be responsible for managing all of the contractual, commercial, legal, programming and stakeholder management aspects of the contract.

What you’ll get in return

In addition to a highly competitive pay you’ll receive all the benefits of working within a local authority organisation, which ranges from flexible working hours to a fantastic pension which allows you the opportunity to pay in more for that greater return. We support all our staff in their on-going development either progression planning or on the job training, we will work together to drive your career forward. For those with families we have child care benefits as well as discounts with local businesses which can be enjoyed by all.

The Market Supplement for the role is subject to review in 12 months. The payment forms part of a reward package (£2,786 additional payment, 26 days annual leave rising to 30, excellent pension with the opportunity to pay in more for a greater reward, plus flexible working).