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- Tasks: Lead cost improvement initiatives and negotiate better contracts for NHS providers.
- Company: Attain, a values-led consultancy with a focus on public and private sector collaboration.
- Benefits: Performance bonuses, generous leave, hybrid work options, and professional development support.
- Other info: Join a supportive culture that values diversity and fosters personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the NHS while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and a strong track record of delivering savings.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The NHS is operating under sustained financial pressure, with an increasing need to deliver material, recurrent savings while maintaining service quality and patient outcomes. NHS organisations require senior commercial expertise to identify cost improvement opportunities, challenge existing contractual arrangements and secure better value from third-party spend. This role offers the opportunity to lead and deliver high-impact cost improvement activity within NHS providers. You will work closely with executive teams and stakeholders to identify opportunities, apply commercial levers and negotiate improved contractual outcomes, delivering tangible, measurable savings for the NHS.
Attain offers a genuinely different proposition to traditional consultancies. We are a values-led organisation with a strong mix of public sector values and private sector thinking. A high proportion of our people have worked directly within the NHS, giving us real credibility with clients. Our teams work shoulder-to-shoulder with long-term NHS partners to deliver tangible savings, improve services and make a lasting impact.
We are deeply people-focused, investing heavily in career development, learning and leadership, with clear opportunities to progress within our business and into senior roles leading projects, care sectors or portfolios. As a growing business, Attain offers exposure to varied, high-impact work, meaningful responsibility, and the chance to shape how we operate. We reward contribution and performance, foster a supportive and inclusive culture, and place real value on doing the right thing, for our people, our clients and the communities they serve.
The role
In this role you will be responsible for:
- Delivering cost improvement savings within NHS providers, with a focus on contract and third-party spend
- Working at pace to deliver an agreed savings target – normally in a pressurised "turnaround" environment – with a clear Return on Investment (ROI) expectation from your individual role
- Identifying, quantifying and prioritising cost improvement opportunities
- Applying commercial levers, negotiation strategies and market insight to secure improved value for money
- Leading commercial strategies, such as contract rationalisation, demand management, price-volume, indexation review and benchmarking
- Reviewing contracts to identify saving opportunities, commercial risk and optimisation potential
- Engaging confidently with executive leaders, including Directors of Finance and senior operational leaders
- Operating with a high degree of autonomy while contributing to wider Attain delivery teams
- Operating effectively in hybrid environments, with regular on-site presence on client sites
Skills and ways of working
You will demonstrate:
- A strong focus on delivery of measurable savings – taking accountability for personal savings targets and those of team members
- Confidence in commercial negotiation and influencing senior stakeholders
- Ability to analyse contracts, financial data and commercial arrangements
- Resilience and adaptability in turnaround and recovery environments
You will work closely with:
- Clinical leaders
- Executive and senior management teams (including Directors of Finance)
- Organisational stakeholders (including finance, procurement and operational colleagues)
The working environment
The role will be in an NHS provider. The working environment is:
- Fast-paced, dynamic and often pressurised
- Frequently operating in turnaround or recovery contexts
- Highly accountable, with clear expectations around ROI and impact
- Requires resilience, adaptability and pace
About you
Your current role
You will bring:
- A strong track record of delivering savings within NHS providers
- Significant experience in managing contract spend, cost improvement or commercial roles
- Confidence operating autonomously while contributing to team delivery
- Experience of influencing and negotiating; delivering better pricing, performance or improved terms
- A clear personal track record of ROI and impact
- Operating within a clear governance structure
- Ability to prioritise to maximise benefits for clients
Your achievements
Successful candidates will be able to evidence:
- Delivery of material, quantifiable savings (in excess of £2m per annum)
- Success in identifying, quantifying and prioritising cost improvement opportunities
- Ability to understand, interpret and amend commercial agreements
- Successfully analysing complex financial information to identify opportunities
- Success in challenging existing commercial arrangements
- Strong negotiation skills and delivering outcomes against demanding targets to time
- Effective Executive-level influence, engagement and reporting
Your career background
We are looking for candidates who have:
- A finance and/or commercial background
- Varied experience across public and private sectors
- Proven delivery in commercial or cost improvement roles
- A strong understanding of contractual and commercial drivers
Your personal attributes
You will be:
- Aligned to Attain's values-led culture
- Highly accountable for your own ROI and driven by results
- Driven to make savings and improve services
- Dynamic and able to re-prioritise opportunities
- Confident and skilled negotiator
- Analytical, commercially astute and outcome-focused
The benefits
- Performance/profit-based annual bonus of circa 10%
- 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays on top
- Company-paid subscription to a professional body
- Hybrid working but also opportunities to work in coworking spaces
- A suite of learning tools to support continuing professional development
- Experience a rich variety of delivery projects across different care areas
At Attain our culture and company values promote a supportive and inclusive environment where our employees' differences are nurtured to enable everyone to reach their full potential. We are committed to a culture where respect and understanding is fostered, and the diversity of people's backgrounds and circumstances are positively valued as they enable Attain to continually bring creativity and innovation to our clients work and internally. Our recruitment process reflects this commitment, focusing on skills, capabilities, and experience to ensure fairness and equity at every step.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Consulting, Health Care Provider, and Management
Industries: Hospitals and Health Care
Associate Director Cost Improvement – Contract Spend in London employer: Attain
Contact Detail:
Attain Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director Cost Improvement – Contract Spend in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the NHS and related sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their challenges and think about how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves influencing senior stakeholders, being confident in your negotiation tactics will set you apart. Role-play with a friend or mentor to sharpen those skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director Cost Improvement – Contract Spend in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in cost improvement and contract management. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your past roles, focus on quantifiable results. We love numbers! If you've delivered savings or improved processes, make sure to include those figures to demonstrate your impact.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value a genuine approach, so don’t be afraid to share your motivations for wanting to join us at StudySmarter and how you align with our values.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people quickly, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Attain
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on your financial acumen. Be ready to discuss specific savings you've achieved in previous roles, ideally over £2m per annum. This will show your potential employer that you can deliver measurable results.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led, especially in contract management. Highlight how you influenced senior stakeholders and secured better terms. This will demonstrate your confidence and capability in commercial negotiations.
✨Understand the NHS Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current challenges facing the NHS, particularly around cost improvement and contract spend. Being able to discuss these issues intelligently will show your commitment and understanding of the sector.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've analysed complex financial data to identify cost-saving opportunities. Bring examples of how you've prioritised these opportunities effectively, as this aligns with the role's focus on delivering tangible savings.