Who are they for?

These Standards are for individuals who identify as contract managers as well as those within an operational delivery, policy or other roles who:

•  Contribute to or make decisions that affect the obligations of a supplier or have other commercial impacts;

•  Carry out contract management activities as part of their role; and/or

•  Take part in supplier interactions or negotiations.

In using third party suppliers, government remains accountable for service delivery delivering benefits and managing the associated risks. Successful management of these contracts and suppliers depends on these individuals forming cross-functional relationships with colleagues from multiple disciplines to develop a balanced view of risks and opportunities, as well as obtain professional expertise on specific issues.

The diagram below illustrates this cross functional way of working. While the areas shown are some of the most frequently observed in terms of input and engagement, this is one picture among many; the extent to which they are required will vary according to the nature of the contract and the supplier relationship, as will the involvement of other groups including IT, communications and business users.

The Standards include case studies which illustrate the cross functional nature of the work carried out during a contract's lifecycle, as well as high level contract management activities.

Supplier relationships and contract delivery also benefit from these relationships being established up front in the commercial lifecycle. Contract management activities should not wait for a contract award to start. Individuals responsible for performing these activities should ideally be involved from the outset to: gather and share lessons learned; confirm the contract is fit for purpose and appropriate resources are in place; inform the procurement process; and ensure a successful transition to service delivery (below):

The Standards have therefore been developed to support individuals in being more effective in their roles throughout this process, through comprehensively articulating the acumen, relationships and technical skills required when carrying out contract management related activities.

By providing a level of clarity and consistency around roles and responsibilities, the Standards assist with career progression conversations and are designed to stimulate meaningful conversations around learning and development. They can also provide insight for individuals who would benefit from further understanding of this area, such as strategy, policy and commissioning professionals.

For example day-to-day roles at each tier please see the People Profiles section.

For more information on Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) see Annex B.