Description:
The Portfolio Office function within Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for the delivery of all capital and operational work within the organisation, enabling it to make key decisions that will optimise the overall delivery of GNI’s portfolio of work.
The portfolio office provides support and oversight in the areas of Investment Planning and Governance, Assurance and Programme Management, Delivery Enablement, Connections Coordination, Land Management and Statutory Consents, and Commercial Management; whilst also acting as the gate keeper and critical interface between potential investment programmes and commercial opportunities; and the core departments responsible for the delivery, operation and maintenance of GNI’s assets.
Reporting to the Commercial Manager, the Contracts Performance Manager is accountable for ensuring appropriate frameworks and contracts are in place to support the delivery of the approved investment plan, for monitoring and managing performance of contracts and frameworks, assuring compliance, driving continuous improvement and delivering efficiency across GNI. They will support GNI on the proactive management and governance of key delivery partners. They will ensure appropriate project level agreements are put in place and act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) with regard to contract obligations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead and direct the work of the Contracts Performance Team.
- Accountable for defining needs of frameworks and contracts required to deliver the Investment Plan supporting framework tender and appointment process.
- Establish and maintain appropriate contract performance frameworks to incorporate structured performance reporting for GNI contracts to assist in managing, monitoring and reporting on commercial performance, which encompasses cost control, forecasting accuracy, risk management, change control processes and commercial disputes.
- Lead the resolution of contract performance issues that arise during the normal operation of GNI’s contracts acting as an escalation point as required.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives in respect of contract performance across the lifecycle of the contracts and ensuring all lessons learned are incorporated into future contracts and ways of working.
- Lead the development and generation of appropriate and regular KPI and other management reports to monitor, focus and enhance contract performance. Manage a team to respond to queries, amend data and issue reporting packs, contract performance dashboards to support and carry out performance review meetings as required.
- Create a culture of working in partnership with our delivery partners to ensure best outcome for GNI and our supply chain.
- Lead a contract governance forum to encourage knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, enhanced contract governance and best practice examples across relevant stakeholders of strategic contracts.
- Liaise with relevant teams across GNI on identification and roll out of Contract Management training, supporting future contract strategy development, general contract support, etc. where required.
- Perform other such duties that may be required from time to time.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Relevant third level degree in Engineering / Business / Finance / Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.
- Minimum 7 years post qualification experience in a related role working in a large scale, complex utility.
- Well-established and proven influencing and negotiation skills
- Demonstrated experience in managing teams, fostering talent, enabling collaboration, and promoting a culture of high performance.
- Demonstrated experience of managing teams with accountability for effective contract, stakeholder and risk management.
- Ability to:
- Manage multiple complex and competing stakeholders and service providers.
- Develop strategic relationships to accomplish the delivery of the contracts.
- Set high standards, by supporting others to assume responsibility for projects and programmes of work.
- Exercise independent judgement in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for contract optimisation and management of change.
- Support colleagues in shaping and implementing efficient and effective processes and adoption of best practice.
- Manage issues within the contracts and act as a point of escalation.
- Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.