Deputy Commercial & Contracts Manager

Welcome to Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH). At CLCH, we proudly serve as a beacon of compassionate community healthcare across 14 vibrant London boroughs. We bring care closer to home, embracing the rich diversity of these communities with dedication and heart.

Recognised as a Good provider by the Care Quality Commission and celebrated among the top NHS employers, we are united by a shared passion: empowering our community health professionals to deliver care that truly makes a difference. We are deeply committed to fostering an environment where every member of our team feels respected, valued, and inspired—a place where fairness, kindness, and inclusion blossom.

We are seeking a dynamic and proactive Deputy Commercial & Contracts Manager to support the effective management of a diverse portfolio of contracts with suppliers and commissioners. The postholder will work closely with senior managers to ensure contracts deliver value for money, meet performance expectations, and align with organisational objectives.

This newly created role offers an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a high-profile and influential team. The Deputy Commercial & Contracts Manager will provide expert commercial and contractual advice across a range of agreements, including Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and Statements of Work (SOWs), delivered both directly and in partnership with external providers.

The role is customer-focused, requiring strong stakeholder engagement skills and a commitment to enabling service lines to achieve their business goals through effective contract management. The postholder will frequently deputise for the Commercial & Contracts Manager and play a key role in supporting the overall commercial function.

Main duties of the job:

• Support senior managers in the management of contracts with suppliers and commissioners, ensuring value for money and effective performance management.
• Deputise for the Commercial & Contracts Manager as required, providing continuity of leadership and decision-making.
• Draft, review, and administer a range of contractual documentation, including SLAs, MOUs, and SOWs.
• Provide expert commercial and contractual advice to contract managers, operational leads, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor contract performance and compliance, identifying risks, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce accurate and timely reports to support contract management, governance, and decision-making.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, supporting effective communication and relationship management.
• Support continuous improvement of contract management processes and ways of working.
• Ensure a customer-focused approach that enables service lines to successfully deliver against their objectives.

Applicants are expected to present clear and relevant evidence of the competencies and responsibilities detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification, together with a demonstrated commitment to the Trust’s values of Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment.

Person specification:

• Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the post or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continual professional development.
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply or working towards relevant accreditation.
• An understanding and practical application of the end-to-end procurement process.
• An understanding of contract management and its application across an organisation.
• Knowledge and experience of procurement and contracting computer systems.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to undertake the practice of Contract Management with little guidance or supervision.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement principles.
• Knowledge of eProcurement applications.
• Working knowledge of Atamis e-Procurement system.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of effectively engaging with others to learn from previous contract performance to improve services.
• Able to communicate complex contract issues to end users and managers within the Trust.
• Excellent interpersonal and effective communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Highly developed organisational and planning skills and to prioritise a demanding work agenda.
• Experience of dealing with external suppliers.
• Effective collaborative working with partner organisations, including independent contractors.
• Demonstrable experience of system and process management, with a proven record of achievement and an ability to inspire and lead staff.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise, delegate as appropriate and seek creative solutions to problem solve.
• Works well in a team.
• Demonstratable communication skills including interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Ability to work from different sites when required.
• Trustworthy and able to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Professional approach with commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).
• Ability to work to deadlines under pressure.

Due to high application volumes, this vacancy may close before the advertised date. Please apply promptly if you meet the Person Specification. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the criteria will be shortlisted.

CLCH is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for providing exceptional patient care. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining talent from all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident employer, we pledge to guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role, provide reasonable adjustments to support diverse needs throughout the recruitment and employment process, and challenge misconceptions about disability and foster an inclusive culture for everyone.

We are committed to building a workplace where all staff feel valued and have the opportunity to thrive.