NHS and Payor Contracts Manager in London

Chase Lodge Hospital is recruiting an NHS and Payor Contracts Manager on a six-month fixed-term contract, with the intention of making the post permanent, to lead its ICB Patient Choice accreditation and then manage the group's NHS contracts, ICB relationships and, in the full-time option, its private payor contracts.

The post-holder will own, end to end, Chase Lodge Hospital's application for ICB Patient Choice accreditation as a qualified provider of NHS-funded elective care, and will then manage the NHS contracts, ICB relationships and compliance obligations that follow. We need a dedicated internal lead who can drive the work day to day rather than relying on external consultancy: an independent-sector contracts or business development professional who has taken a provider through Patient Choice accreditation. Prior NHS commissioning experience is welcome but secondary.

The six-month term covers the accreditation programme to submission and, where the ICB timetable allows, decision; the accreditation work is ring-fenced until submission, after which the wider contracts remit begins.

• Lead the ICB Patient Choice accreditation (initial priority)
  • Plan and run the full programme: timeline, workstreams, evidence register and risk log, reporting to the CEO weekly.
  • Translate the ICB's qualification criteria and NHS England guidance into a gap analysis and action plan for each department.
  • Compile and quality-assure the evidence pack across clinical governance, safeguarding, infection control, information governance, workforce, finance, estates and IT.
  • Draft the application, declarations and supporting policies; co-ordinate sign‑off by the CEO, Medical Director and Clinical Governance Lead.
  • Co-ordinate operational readiness: e‑Referral Service (e‑RS) set‑up, NHS Standard Contract schedules, data flows and reporting, and NHS Payment Scheme pricing.
• Manage NHS contracts and ICB relationships (ongoing)
  • Contract-manage all NHS Standard Contracts, sub‑contracts and framework agreements, including variation, extension and renewal.
  • Build relationships with ICB commissioning, contracting and quality teams, NHS trusts and referral partners; represent the hospital at contract review meetings.
  • Identify and respond to NHS tenders, expressions of interest, Any Qualified Provider opportunities and framework calls, working with the CEO on bid strategy.
• Reporting and compliance
  • Own NHS reporting obligations: activity and finance returns, quality schedule submissions, RTT and waiting‑list data, incidents, complaints and CQUIN or local quality requirements.
  • Ensure NHS data flows (Commissioning Data Sets, National Data Opt‑out, Data Security and Protection Toolkit) are in place and submitted on time, with IT and the information governance lead.
  • Maintain registrations on NHS systems and provider directories; keep policies and declarations current for annual re‑accreditation.
• Internal co‑ordination
  • Chair a cross‑functional accreditation and NHS contracts working group, setting actions and holding colleagues to deadlines.
  • Work with Finance on pricing, invoicing and reconciliation, and with Operations and clinical teams on pathway design and capacity planning for NHS patients.
• Private payor and institutional contracts (full‑time option; after submission)
  • Build and maintain a single group contracts register covering every payor and partner agreement: counterparty, term, renewal date, pricing basis, KPIs and obligations.
  • Manage private medical insurer recognition and fee schedules (AXA Health, Bupa, Aviva, Vitality, WPA), including new‑service recognition and annual tariff reviews.
  • Draft, negotiate and administer B2B, corporate, school, membership, practising‑privileges, revenue‑share and joint‑venture agreements, reporting quarterly to the CEO on performance, renewal risk and compliance.

Hands‑on, provider‑side experience of applying for ICB Patient Choice accreditation is essential; applications without it will not be shortlisted.

Essential

• Has personally led or co‑led an ICB Patient Choice / qualified‑provider application for an independent healthcare provider, and knows the evidence required and common reasons for refusal.
• Experience in an independent‑sector contracts, business development or commercial team dealing directly with ICB contracting and quality teams.
• Working knowledge of the NHS Standard Contract, its schedules and variation processes.
• Familiar with e‑RS, RTT reporting, Commissioning Data Sets and the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.
• Understands CQC registration, how clinical governance evidence maps to commissioner requirements, and NHS Payment Scheme tariffs, activity planning and invoicing.
• Has led a multi‑department evidence programme to a fixed deadline; builds credible relationships with ICB officers and clinicians; writes clear, defensible submissions.
• Degree or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• More than one provider accredited, or experience of re‑accreditation or an appeal; prior ICB, CCG, CSU, NHS England or trust commissioning experience.
• NHS tenders, frameworks and the Provider Selection Regime; CQC inspection preparation; contract pricing and reconciliation.
• Private medical insurer recognition, fee‑schedule negotiation and B2B healthcare agreements (essential for the full‑time option).
• PRINCE2 or similar; postgraduate qualification in health policy, management or law.

Personal attributes: organised and deadline‑driven; comfortable chasing senior colleagues for evidence; analytical and precise in reading guidance; discreet with commercially sensitive information; works largely on own initiative with CEO oversight.

Direct line to the CEO (a Consultant Psychiatrist and CQC Registered Manager) with authority to prioritise accreditation work across departments; direct access to the Medical Director, Clinical Governance Lead, Finance, IT and departmental managers for evidence, and to the Non‑executive Director for board sign‑off. Specialist consultancy and legal advisers can be engaged for defined work with CEO approval.

Terms and how to apply

Contract term: Six‑month fixed term with a review at month five. We intend to convert the post to a permanent contract at the end of the term, subject to satisfactory performance and the accreditation application being on track. On conversion the start date counts for continuous service and annual leave, and probation is treated as served.

Pay and working options: Full‑time (37.5 h), six‑month fixed term: responsibilities 1-5; £62,000-£72,000 FTE; £5,000 bonus on accreditation being granted. Part‑time (3 days / 22.5 h), six‑month fixed term: responsibilities 1-4; £60,000-£66,000 FTE, pro rata (£36,000-£39,600 for 3 days); £3,000 bonus on accreditation being granted. Day rate (accreditation phase only, 6-9 months): £350-£450 per day via limited company or umbrella, IR35 status assessed; no bonus.

Pay is benchmarked against Agenda for Change Band 8a-8b plus a premium to offset loss of NHS pension and high‑cost area supplement; placement depends on accreditations personally led and breadth of NHS contracting experience.

Working pattern: hybrid between home and Mill Hill NW7; on‑site days to be agreed, with flexibility around ICB deadlines and visits.

Benefits: 25 days' leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), workplace pension, staff discount on hospital services, free parking, professional development budget.

Pre‑employment checks: references, right to work and a basic DBS check.

Interview: a conversation with the CEO, then a panel interview walking through the evidence register from your most recent application and the three areas that caused most difficulty, plus a short written exercise.

Closing date: to be confirmed; the post may close early.

Chase Lodge Hospital is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.