Head of Contracts (NHS AfC: Band 8b) - Contracting - NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrate[...]

Employer: NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board

Employer type: NHS

Site: Charter House

Town: Welwyn Garden City

Salary: £64,337 – £74,415 per annum (including Fringe HCAS)

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 02/02/2025 23:59

Interview date: 11/02/2025

Head of Contracts

NHS AfC: Band 8b

Job overview

The role will be responsible for the contract management of a portfolio of contracts and ensure that the contracts are managed effectively and efficiently. The post will manage the Contract Leads as well as deputise for the Assistant Director of Contracts. The post will also manage the Directory of Services (DoS) team. The post holder will also be expected to demonstrate effective leadership, strong provider/supplier contract management skills, contract technical expertise, commercial contract awareness, and good financial acumen.

Main duties of the job

With an emphasis on multi-disciplinary team working and collective responsibility, they will matrix work with teams across the ICB to achieve/deliver the following:

1. Implementation of the ICB’s strategic commissioning intentions and strategy through the development of related contracts, leading all processes where the ICB is host commissioner.
2. Financial sustainability – Delivery of contracts in line with agreed plans and budgets; supporting all areas of commissioning from the planning and negotiation of contracts to the performance management of providers against targets, leading all processes where the ICB is host commissioner.
3. Development of strong links with associate commissioners for hosted contracts to ensure they are fully integrated with all contractual arrangements and related processes.
4. Proactive identification and understanding of any reasons for in-year variances to contract schedules; timely communication with relevant colleagues, taking forward actions with providers to resolve issues.
5. Lead on contracting policy and guidance, including assessments of and advice regarding the implications for the ICB and support in taking forward with the team.
6. Lead contractual support and advice for service redesigns and procurements particularly in the development of transformation schemes and business cases.

Working for our organisation

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is the local NHS organisation that plans and oversees how NHS money is spent and makes sure health services work well and are of high quality. The ICB’s role is to join up health and care services, improve health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities for the 1.5 million people who live in Hertfordshire and West Essex.

It’s an exciting time for us and we’re looking for people who enjoy working in a fast-paced, vibrant environment that can help us achieve our aim.

So if you share our passion for people and want to make a positive change to their health and health services then we want to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role please see the job description and person specification attached.

Interviews are to be held in person on 11th February/12th February.

The ICB reserves the right to close the role early should a sufficient number of applications be received.

Person specification

Physical skills

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Extensive knowledge of the NHS Standard Contract and policies that underpin these.
• Ability to interpret and apply the legal, mandatory and commercial terms for contracts.
• Extensive knowledge of drafting contracts, tender exercises, and managing contracts post-award.
• Technical contracting and procurement skills and evidence of commercial aptitude.
• Robust negotiation and contract development and finalisation skills.
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in a specialist area.
• Extensive knowledge of contracting, acquired through postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent.
• Experience of service or pathway redesign and of implementing change including policies and procedures, to meet objectives and improve services.
• Evidence of post-qualifying and continuing professional development.
• Member of relevant professional body.
• Knowledge of the Directory of Services.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation skills and able to deliver complex concepts to a range of stakeholders both internal and external and at all levels of the organisation.

Analytical

• Ability to prepare, analyse and interpret complex data using appropriate IT systems and software.
• Understanding of key activity and finance concepts and models in healthcare contracting.
• Experience of the NHS annual planning round and the annual contract planning round at a system level.
• Team/staff development and management skills.

Autonomy

• Ability to work and make decisions autonomously and without supervision providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Finance and Physical Resources

• Financial/budget management and analytical skills.
• Experience of being responsible for a budget, being involved in budget setting and knowledge of financial processes.

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