Senior Skills Relationship and Contracts Manager

Join our Skills team as a Senior Skills Relationship and Contract Manager.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the success of the North East Combined Authority’s devolved skills programmes. Acting as the vital link between our Contract Managers and the Skills Relationship & Contract Management Lead, you will provide strategic operational oversight to ensure our commissioned provision is high quality, compliant and consistently aligned with regional priorities. This is a chance to directly influence delivery that makes a genuine difference to learners, communities and employers across the North East.
You will lead with confidence and clarity, supervising Contract Managers and embedding strong performance management across the team. From analysing complex provider performance data to identifying risks and resolving challenging contract issues, you’ll use your expertise to drive continuous improvement and ensure robust support, challenge and accountability. You’ll also take ownership of performance meetings with high-risk or priority providers, shaping actions and recommendations that lead to meaningful and sustained improvements.

Alongside this, you’ll play an active role in strengthening provider relationships, ensuring partners fully understand expectations, funding rules and quality requirements. You will help shape future commissioning activity, support programme mobilisation and continually refine the processes and tools that underpin effective contract management. As a key member of the team, you will also coordinate operational workstreams and deputise for the Skills Delivery Lead when required, making this an exciting opportunity for a motivated professional ready to take on senior leadership responsibility.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities and experiences. We support flexible working and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented including women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

If you’re motivated, organised and passionate about making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

If you would like an informal discussion, or further information about this role please contact Michael Humes Skills Delivery Lead [email protected]

Closing date for applications: Monday 27th April 2026 at 23:59
For further information about the North East Combined Authority please visit our website