Contracts & Business Manager

Key Information

Job title: Contracts & Business Manager (permanent role)

Salary: up to £54,747.00     Grade: Pay Band 3     

Contract type: TfL     Reference: 1774

Team: Contracts & Business Management      Directorate: Chief Operating Officer

Contract details: Full-time     Location: Southwark, London SE1, with hybrid working
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 requirements

Application closing date: 16 July 2025 @ 2359
Before applying, please read the application instructions below

Overview of project/role

Join 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 other internal stakeholders to ensure robust cost control and value for money, while driving innovation and sustainability. This is a unique 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 commercial relationships with policing partners such as the 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, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

Key Accountabilities

Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• 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
• Management of CPOS contractual agreements, including commercial management of third party technology and operational agreements, such as the Police Services Agreement (PSA) with the British Transport Police, ensuring value for money by supporting performance reviews, updates, and variations
• 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

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Skills

• 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)

Knowledge

• 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

• 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)

Application Process

• 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

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow.  Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• 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

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.