Job Description:
Latest job information from Advice Space for the position of Head of Contracts and Service Development. If the Head of Contracts and Service Development vacancy in Belfast matches your qualifications, please submit your latest application or CV directly through the updated Jobkos job portal.
Please note that applying for a job may not always be easy, as new candidates must meet certain qualifications and requirements set by the company. We hope the career opportunity at Advice Space for the position of Head of Contracts and Service Development below matches your qualifications.
HEAD OF CONTRACTS AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
SALARY: £43,400 PER ANNUM - 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday)
The name Advice Space has been around for eight years now, but our ethos and values are still based on our fifty+ year legacy as part of the Citizens Advice movement. Our focus is about helping people – no matter who they are – to exercise their rights and obtain fair treatment under the law.
Advice Space offers free and up-to-date factual advice to anyone who needs it. We give people the knowledge to help them fight their corner and move a difficult situation forward or act on their behalf if it helps.
PURPOSE
The Head of Contracts & Service Development shall provide strategic and operational leadership for all funded advice services delivered by the charity, whilst ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to support operations and deliver the Advice Space Strategic Plan.
The role will oversee development and implementation of high-quality, compliant, and financially sustainable advice services aligned with our charitable objectives and regulatory requirements and ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place.
The postholder will lead contract management, service performance, quality assurance, service development and areas of budgetary management thus ensuring clients receive accessible, inclusive, and outcome-focused support.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Leadership
- Lead the strategic development and growth of advice services in response to need, strategic plans, policy change, and funding opportunities.
- Contribute to the Strategic Management Team (SMT) in supporting organisational strategy and business planning.
- Develop and agree annual business planning targets and key performance indicators (KPI’s) for advice services and contracts to ensure service delivery and growth.
- Identify and pursue new funding, tender, and partnership opportunities in line with strategy.
- Develop service models that promote innovation, accessibility, and digital inclusion.
2. Contract & Performance Management
- Lead on the successful implementation and delivery of the Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service (BCTS) contract in conjunction with the relevant Advice Services Manager (commencement date: April26).
- Lead on the successful implementation and delivery of the new Macmillan contract with Advice Space as the new NI Regional Lead in conjunction with the relevant Advice Services Manager (commencement date: June26).
- Oversight and management of all Belfast City Council/DfC generalist, debt and welfare reform grant programmes to ensure funding is secured as it becomes due and the associated programmes of work are implemented.
- Oversight and overall management of all other Advice Space grant-aid and contract funding (e.g. NICHS/Cystic Fibrosis/BHSCT/Positive Life/Trussell etc.).
- Ensure compliance with all contractual requirements, KPIs, GDPR requirements, safeguarding, and quality standards including reporting and dealing with potential breaches.
- Monitor performance data and produce reports for business plans, funders, trustees, and senior management.
- Lead future new contract negotiations.
3. Impact and Impact Measurement
- Lead the development of Theories of Change for advice services to set out pathways for long-term change and ensure the Advice Space customer journeys are adapted to help maximise opportunity for achieving impact and positive change.
- Ensure a robust framework for data collection, impact measurement, and continuous improvement is developed for Advice Space that is both managed appropriately and operational across all operational services ensuring appropriate levels of accountability throughout.
- Take forward and lead on implementing the recommendations arising from the DfC Refresh policy review underway (as at 2026).
4. Service Delivery - Quality Assurance
- Ensure delivery of high-quality advice in line with the expectation of the NI Advice Quality Standard (NIAQS).
- Oversight of casework quality, supervision frameworks, and service audits/case reviews carried out by relevant Managers.
- Maintain effective safeguarding, risk management, and data protection procedures in line with quality assurance requirements.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion across all services.
5. Financial & Budgetary Management
- Prepare & build timely service/project & contract budgets annually and also for new service/project bids and submissions as required.
- Monitor and manage budget income and expenditure within designated area of responsibility and identify and report on variances while identifying, agreeing & implementing remedial action.
- Prepare finance reports to CEO, Finance sub-committee and the Trustee Board on budgetary performance highlighting variations and providing explanations and agreed remedial action.
- Maximise contract value by agreeing and monitoring unit costs and ensure effective resource allocation and value for money.
- Meet with Auditors monthly to monitor budgets and variances and to assist with identifying remedial action early to be responsive to addressing variances.
- Ensure timely reporting to funders for all projects, funders and contracts as required to ensure compliance and good practice.
6. Funding & Fundraising
- To scan environment and identify funding opportunities for growth in line with Strategy
- To take forward and lead in building and submitting new funding applications and procurement bids for new and renewing contracts to maintain existing and secure new income for Advice Space
7. People Strategy & Leadership
- Lead, manage, and develop the Advice Service Managers including their learning and development.
- Support workforce planning including staff and volunteers.
- Oversee recruitment within advice service teams.
- Oversee performance management with Advice Service Managers within advice service teams.
- Lead in the development of a new Academy of Learning and Development to support staff and volunteer personal and professional development across the organisation.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
8. Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement & Marketing
- Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders including BCC and DfC as well as with all funders, and community partners.
- Represent the organisation at strategic forums and events as required.
- Promote and market Advice Space brand awareness effectively through a range of mediums including organisational social media channels.
9. Governance & Compliance
- Support the CEO and Trustees with performance reporting and strategic insight.
- Ensure services meet regulatory, legal, and network compliance requirements.
- Contribute to organisational risk management planning.
- Contribute to business continuity planning.
- Contribute to policy influencing and development.
10. Infrastructure Support
- Ensure appropriate ICT support is in place to enable function and delivery of effective and efficient advice services including for: Telephony, AdvicePro case recording system; IT hardware and appropriate Adviser resources.
- Lead in the development of innovative technologies for provision of advice services to clients including AI technology to ensure the most efficient and effective use of Advice Space resources and that help maximise impact for clients.
- Ensure with the Advice Service Managers that all office locations and facilities are fully operational, resourced and compliant and managed adequately on a day-to-day basis.
11. CEO Support
- To deputise for the CEO as required and assume lead responsibility in areas designated under deputising role.
- To act in an Ambassadorial role for Advice Space in absence of CEO and as required at events, functions, conferences etc.
12. Other
- To be responsible for own learning and development
- To adhere to the values of the organisation
- To carry out any other duties required that are reasonable to ensuring the success of the role.
Person Specification & Additional Information
Essential
- A minimum of 3-years senior management experience (defined as a member of a senior/strategic management/leadership team) in the last 7 years (at June26) within an advice organisation, charity, public sector organisation, or within commissioned services.
- 3 years demonstrable leadership experience, leading a multidisciplinary team.
- Demonstrated responsibility in public procurement contract bid writing & submitting.
- Strong experience managing public procurement contracts and related performance frameworks.
- Demonstrated responsibility in writing and submitting funding applications to charitable grant making organisations (philanthropic sources).
- Strong financial management experience with direct budgetary responsibility in excess of £200k (To include preparing/building budgets, monitoring budgets, reporting variances, identifying & implementing remedial action and reporting to a CEO, Finance Committee or Board).
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, including volunteers.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, GDPR, and quality assurance frameworks.
- A strong degree of interpersonal skills is required.
- IT proficiency in the Microsoft Suite of applications.
Desirable (to be used in shortlisting in the event of a high number of applications)
- Prince2 (Project Management) Qualification
- General knowledge of welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment advice services and issues.
- Understanding of commissioning environments.
Additional Information
- The postholder is required to be based in-person at our Belfast Central office but may be required to travel (largely across our Belfast offices and those of our partners but also from time-to-time across N.I. - relevant travel expenses are paid).
- Evening or occasional weekend work may on occasion be required but a TOIL system will operate if required.
- Appointment subject to satisfactory references and a criminal background disclosure.
- Advice Space also reserve the right to heighten the criteria if a significant volume of applications is received.
For further details please click on the APPLY BUTTON.
Closing date: Noon, Thursday 23rd July 2026
It is unlikely late applications received after this time/date will be accepted.
Job Info:
- Company: Advice Space
- Position: Head of Contracts and Service Development
- Work Location: Belfast
- Country: IE
How to Submit an Application:
After reading and understanding the criteria and minimum qualification requirements explained in the job information Head of Contracts and Service Development at the office Belfast above, immediately complete the job application files such as a job application letter, CV, photocopy of diploma, transcript, and other supplements as explained above. Submit via the Next Page link below.
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