Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 / week
Salary: circa £80,000 depending on experience
Location: Birmingham or Leeds
WFH policy: Employees are required to attend the office 2 days/week
Flexible working: Variety of flexible work patterns subject to line manager discretion e.g. Compressed 9-day fortnight.
Reports to: Head of Account & Contract Management
Deadline Note: We reserve the right to close the advert before the advertised deadline if there are a high volume of applications.
Role Summary:
As a Lead Contract Manager, you will lead and develop a high‑performing team responsible for managing long-term low-carbon energy contracts and supporting counterparties to progress contractual milestones and commence delivery of low carbon energy.
You will contribute to work of national importance by enabling contracts to operate effectively, helping accelerate effective investment in UK energy security and net zero. Acting as an account manager, you will oversee a portfolio of complex contracts, ensuring strong relationships, robust governance and practical problem-solving throughout the contract lifecycle.
Given that LCCC is a not-for-profit organisation, this is not a typical contract or commercial management role. Performance is not measured against a bottom line, but instead by two guiding principles: to maintain investors’ confidence in the low carbon schemes and to minimise cost to consumers, whilst enabling the delivery of the low carbon projects.
LCCC’s contracts typically span 15-20 years, with the most intensive engagement during development and construction in the initial 4-5 years. Relationship management, sound judgement and strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders are central to success in this role. Site visits to each project are also undertaken at least once a year and provide a unique opportunity to gain exposure to several leading-edge technologies implemented as part of the multibillion GBP projects.
The Lead Contract Manager will, as well as managing their team, their contract portfolio and being part of the Scheme Delivery Extended Leadership team, also lead on supporting the wider Scheme Delivery Team and LCCC initiatives, and regularly interface with both internal (Legal, Data & Analytics, Finance, etc.) and external (DESNZ, Ofgem, EMRS, etc.) stakeholders.
The role will be flexible across our schemes whether managing renewable CfDs, hydrogen contracts, CCUS contracts or any new schemes in future as they are allocated to LCCC.
People Leadership
- Provide first‑line leadership and develop a high‑performing team of Contract Managers.
- Lead and support the development, performance management and progression of Contract Managers, ensuring capabilities align to portfolio needs.
- Support recruitment activity, including shortlisting, interviewing and onboarding
- Maintain a resilient and well-balanced team, ensuring appropriate allocation of work and sustained performance across portfolios.
- Ensure team records, management information and contract data are accurate, complete and maintained in line with agreed standards.
Contract and Account Management
- Act as Account Manager for assigned contracts, providing leadership oversight and ensuring effective management of contract portfolios across the contract lifecycle.
- Ensure contracts are operated in accordance with contractual terms and scheme requirements, owning the identification and analysis of contractual issues and developing options and recommendations through established governance and delegated approval frameworks.
- Act as a trusted advisor to counterparties and government stakeholders, providing pragmatic solutions within the parameters of the contractual agreement.
Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain trust through developing strong, constructive relationships with counterparties, underpinned by regular engagement and effective communication.
- Undertake site visits and attend counterparty offices as required, using face‑to‑face engagement to strengthen relationships and delivery outcomes.
- Take ownership of relationships at an account management level, whilst supporting Contract Managers to manage for relationships at a working project level.
- Collaborate with internal teams, such as Policy, Operations, Finance and Legal to review contractual milestones, claims, amendments and contractual issues.
Governance, Risk and Insight
- Ensure robust governance and approval processes are followed consistently, and clear, accurate papers are drafted for internal governance approvals.
- Retain responsibility for budget oversight and cost control within your team and portfolio, ensuring spend is justified, proportionate and aligned with approval frameworks.
- Identify emerging risks or issues early, take ownership of developing mitigations and options, and know when to escalate to more senior colleagues.
- Understand developments across the energy industry, landscape, and relevant technologies, and translate complex information about trends and key facts into clear insights.
- Provide clear, concise and timely briefings to senior stakeholders on portfolio performance, risks and emerging issues.
- Maintain awareness of potential changes to government policy or guidance, and work with colleagues across the business to interpret them and the implications for the schemes and contracts.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead and support the development and continuous improvement of company and directorate contract management policies, procedures, processes, systems and guidance.
- Contribute to wider Scheme Delivery and LCCC initiatives, sharing expertise and supporting cross-directorate working and collaboration to support successful business outcomes.
Essential
- A self-starting leader and commercial contract manager with extensive relevant contract and people management experience.
- Leadership of operational contract management including team leadership and people line management, administration of complex contracts, negotiation and change management and claim and dispute management
- Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a pragmatic and solutions‑focused approach to resolving complex contractual and commercial issues.
- Commercial acumen with extensive experience of analysing and developing solutions to high-value (£m+) complex commercial and contractual issues whilst maintaining effective relationships.
- A demonstrable ability to build, maintain and develop effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders, including senior stakeholders.
- Experience of relevant legal, regulatory and contract management issues.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) including the ability to clearly explain complex technical, commercial, and contractual issues to a range of audiences.
- High attention to detail, with the ability to interpret and apply contractual requirements accurately.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with a professional and approachable manner.
- Willingness to travel to stakeholder sites and offices and build relationships face‑to‑face as required.
Desirable
- Relevant experience in power generation, the wider energy sector or hydrogen and/or CCUS industries
- Good understanding of the current UK energy policy landscape and regulations, including power and renewables sectors
- Knowledge or experience of Contracts for Difference (CfD) or similar long-term infrastructure support mechanisms.
- Experience of project finance structures or transactional processes.
- Proven project management experience
As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. Key benefits that may be available depending on the role include:
- Annual performance based bonus, up to 10%
- 25 days annual leave, plus eight bank holidays
- Up to 8% pension contribution
- Financial support and time off for study relevant to your role, plus a professional membership subscription
- Employee referral scheme (up to £1500), and colleague recognition scheme
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave and shared parental leave
- Free, confidential employee assistance, including financial management, family care, mental health, and on-call GP service
- Three paid volunteering days a year
- Season ticket loan and cycle to work schemes
- Family savings on days out and English Heritage, gym discounts, cash back and discounts at selected retailers
- Employee resource groups
The Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) exists to help decarbonise the generation of electricity and make it more affordable for the future. Our work is central to the delivery of the Government’s objective to achieve Net Zero target by 2050.
Discover more about LCCC and what it's like to work with us by watching this video:
https://vimeo.com/1071699533
Please take the time to answer the optional diversity questions
At LCCC, we are powered by curiosity, driven to learn from different perspectives and experiences as we work towards a flexible energy future. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can be their authentic selves and feel empowered to own every outcome.
We believe that we are better together – and that diverse teams, reflective of the communities we serve, help us thrive, innovate and deliver greater impact. Your diversity data helps us track how well we're progressing towards our inclusion goals.
Please note that any diversity data you share is completely anonymised and used only in aggregated reports that are not linked to individual candidates.
