Apprentice IT Contract Manager

Apprentice IT Contract Manager at L&Q, supporting the procurement, negotiation, renewal, and performance management of technology and corporate service contracts while completing a CIPS Level 4 Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner apprenticeship.

NB: To qualify for apprenticeship funding, the individual must have a valid and eligible residency status. This requires residency in the UK (or British Overseas Territories) for at least 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship.

The L&Q Early Talent Programme has been designed to help you get the career you have always wanted. This role provides the opportunity to start a new career path with a values-led organisation that will support you to learn and develop throughout the programme and beyond.

Introduction:

Our Contract Management team procures, negotiates and manages Technology and Corporate Services contracts across L&Q. This includes business-critical contracts for housing and finance management systems, professional services, hardware, software licensing and many more. We work closely with internal and external stakeholders to build strong supplier relationships, monitor performance and ensure compliance.

Overview of the role:

We are looking for an ambitious candidate to join our busy and supportive Contract Management team and train as a Contract Manager. In this role, you will learn to manage the procurement, delivery and performance of Technology and Corporate Services contracts and suppliers across L&Q.

Your responsibilities will include leading supplier performance reviews and scorecards, helping to scope, negotiate and procure software, hardware and professional services, drafting and renewing contracts, supporting tenders and contributing to projects. You will also help ensure compliance with Procurement Regulations and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders at different levels.

From day one, you will take on meaningful responsibilities in a challenging role, with support from experienced Contract Managers and your line manager to guide, coach and develop your skills.

Join our Technology Team at L&Q:

• Help shape the future of Technology at L&Q while ensuring we get the best value and performance from our suppliers and products.

• As an Apprentice IT Contract Manager, you’ll lead supplier performance reviews and renewals under £100,000, ensuring we have the right terms and conditions, coupled with the right products in place to support our wider strategy,

• You’ll be part of an experienced Contract Management team, reporting to one of our IT Contract Managers.

• Technology at L&Q is growing rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for our team to expand and develop with it.

Your impact in the role:

• Your main duties will include managing supplier performance, renewing, procuring, terminating, extending and drafting contracts across Technology, and working with stakeholders to get the best solutions for the best value to meet business needs.

•  You’ll build strong relationships with the wider commercial team, including procurement and finance, while also working with delivery and support teams across the business at a variety of different levels. You’ll build mutually beneficial relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

• You’ll help us get the best value from our contracts, support us in reaching our team KPIs and generate efficiencies across the business.

What you'll bring:

• 5 x Grade 6-9 (or equivalent) GCSEs, to include English & Maths

• Basic understanding of contract principles and practices

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Very good attention to detail

• Ideally, you’ll have an interest in procurement and/or contract management and will have experience in a customer facing role at any level, but not essential

What you can expect:

Competitive salary and great company benefit package - Benefits include:  Excellent pension plan (up to 6% double contribution), 28 days Annual Leave rising to 31 days with length of service + Bank Holidays, Westfield Health Cash Plan, non-contributory life assurance, up to 21 hours volunteering paid days, lifestyle benefits, Employee Assistance Programme and many more…

•  Great breadth and variety of experiences through a structured apprenticeship or training programme.

• You will have access to outstanding training offered internally.

• You will be supported throughout the programme by an experienced line manager and mentor.

About L&Q:

We’re one of the UK’s leading housing associations and developers. We were founded on a simple belief: high quality housing is vital for people’s health, happiness and security. Everyone deserves a quality home that gives them the chance to live a better life.

250,000 people call our properties ‘home’, and we’re proud to serve diverse communities across London, the South East and North West of England.

People are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. The foundation of everything that we are is built on our corporate values, which outline our core expectations and should be demonstrated at all times, and all levels, when representing L&Q.

At L&Q, we know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger – and they’re at the heart of everything we do.

When we recruit, we look at what really matters: your skills, experience, and potential. We’re proud to be recognised for creating an inclusive workplace. We’re a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) and we’ve introduced our own Recruitment Advocate scheme to make sure every step of our hiring process is fair, transparent, and consistent. It’s all part of our commitment to ending discrimination and making L&Q a place where everyone feels welcome.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. We recognise the responsibility we hold as one of the UK’s largest housing associations.