MIM Contract Manager

Vacancy title

MIM Contract Manager

Closing date

28/04/2026, 16:00

Advertising basis

Permanent

Actual starting salary

A starting salary between £76,715 and £82,089 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience, and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable.

Salary range or pay band

Grade 6 £76,715 to £88,023

Allowances

No

Work pattern

Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group

Education, Culture and Welsh Language

Directorate

Education

Branch

Infrastructure

Location (s)

Pan Wales

Purpose of post

The current phase of investment for Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Programme will see £5.5bn investment, through a blend of traditional capital and MIM revenue funding, in new and refurbished school and college buildings across Wales.

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.

• 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.
• 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.

Ability to informally train and mentor less experienced staff.

Commitment to equality and diversity.

Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products, including Word and Excel

Key tasks

Pre-Financial Close

• 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.
• 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.
• Regularly report internally to the Welsh Government’s Programme Director on the progress of each project.
• 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.
• 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

• Assist education delivery partners to monitor construction against Project Co’s Proposals, the Authority’s Construction Requirements, and the Programme on site.
• Provide expert support to the education delivery partners on any significant issues arising from the following ‘business as usual’ processes during the construction phase:
• Review Procedure
• Design Development
• Reviewable Design Data
• Discharge of Planning Conditions
• Utilities - substation leases, wayleaves etc.
• FF&E and ICT decisions (particularly if legacy)
• Programme Delays
• Project Co Changes

Authority Changes

Stop notices

Opening up

Compensation & Delay Events (including any pre-construction asbestos claims)

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:

• the role of the Independent Tester.
• level of client involvement during acceptance tests.
• approach to acceptance including defining snagging as opposed to unfinished works.
• enforcing the snagging process.
• Soft Landings and training.
• Building User Guide and O&Ms.
• commissioning and recommissioning.
• optimisation of the building performance.
• post occupancy evaluation; and
• 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:

• Ongoing management of Facilities Management services, including managing performance against specification/contract.
• The link between snagging/unavailability and performance shortfalls.
• The delivery of the Building Performance Evaluation and ongoing Post Occupancy Evaluation.
• Recommissioning and optimising the Building Performance.
• Energy monitoring usage and consumption and setting the ongoing performance targets for energy consumption following the bedding in period.
• Operation of the Payment Mechanism and application of deductions.
• Availability
• Service Performance

Escalation Events

Authority Damage

Authority Changes

Permitted small value changes

Small value changes

Medium value changes

High value changes

ProjectCo management of subcontractors

Addressing the Welsh Government specific requirements on monitoring and reporting on MIM schemes as they arise

Monitoring classification risk

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:

• the role of the Independent Tester.
• level of client involvement during acceptance tests.
• approach to acceptance including defining snagging as opposed to unfinished works.
• enforcing the snagging process.
• Soft Landings and training.
• Building User Guide and O&Ms.
• commissioning and recommissioning.
• optimisation of the building performance.
• post occupancy evaluation; and
• 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:

• Ongoing management of Facilities Management services, including managing performance against specification/contract.
• The link between snagging/unavailability and performance shortfalls.
• The delivery of the Building Performance Evaluation and ongoing Post Occupancy Evaluation.
• Recommissioning and optimising the Building Performance.
• Energy monitoring usage and consumption and setting the ongoing performance targets for energy consumption following the bedding in period.

Operation of the Payment Mechanism and application of deductions.

Availability

Service Performance

Escalation Events

Authority Damage

Authority Changes

Permitted small value changes

Small value changes

Medium value changes

High value changes

ProjectCo management of subcontractors

Addressing the Welsh Government specific requirements on monitoring and reporting on MIM schemes as they arise

Monitoring classification risk

Development opportunities

The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme is a major investment programme delivered across Wales. The Programme supports a wide range of government commitments and works across policy areas. The post holder will communicate and build relationships with colleagues from across the Welsh government.

This exciting and fast-paced role provides ample opportunities for Ministerial engagement and development of policy, legislation, stakeholder management and engagement, and project management development.

Other vacancy related information

• A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
• A presentation/ test on ‘Managing a Quality Service’ will be required at ‘Interview Stage’. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
• This post is Pan Wales – including attendance in Cardiff, typically fortnightly
• CVs will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.
• Frequent travel to delivery partner project sites and Cathays Park, Cardiff is a requirement for this role to which a Full UK Driving Licence will be required.
  
  

Vetting level

Basic

Number of posts

1

Contact point for further information regarding the post

Neal O’Leary – Programme Director - sustainablecommunitiesforlearning@gov.wales

Welsh language requirements

3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.

Understanding by reading

0 - No skills

Speaking and being understood

0 - No skills

Understanding by listening

0 - No skills

Writing and being understood

0 - No skills

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

Behaviour 1

The selection process and stages are:

Communicating and Influencing

Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required.

Behaviour 2

Working Together

Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress.

Behaviour 3

Leadership

Seek out shared interests beyond own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation

Behaviour 4

Managing a Quality Service

Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.

Evidence to provide

CV, Experience questions

Experience 1

Managing complex contracts and large‑scale construction projects

Ability to manage complex construction‑related contracts, including projects delivered through innovative funding models such as PPP/PFI or similar. This includes the ability to interpret and apply detailed contractual provisions, performance standards and payment mechanisms, and to hold contracting bodies to account.

Experience 2

• Providing expert technical, legal, commercial and financial advice
  
  

Capability to work confidently with senior stakeholders—such as directors, CEOs and external advisers—to resolve significant technical, commercial and financial issues, including providing authoritative advice during business case development, reviewing derogations, and supporting partners through the journey to financial close.

Experience 3

• Delivering across full project lifecycles in high pressure environments
  
  

Experience in managing and coordinating delivery through all stages of a project lifecycle from early scoping and design, through construction and commissioning, into operational performance, including monitoring progress, managing change, addressing delays, overseeing FM service performance, and ensuring compliance with contractual and performance standards.

Strength 1

Negotiator

Strength 2

Strategic

Technical 1

Thorough understanding of MIM/PPP/PFI contractual framework, including the Strategic Partnering Agreement and standard form Project Agreements, demonstrating your ability to interpret and apply technical, legal, financial and commercial provisions within these contracts supporting public sector delivery partners.

You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme

31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)

training and development opportunities

Cycle2Work Scheme

Smart Working flexible working arrangement

Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales . Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.

How To Apply

All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.

Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.

If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:

• request an application pack in an alternative format

request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:

When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.