Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Contract Management

Lead, support and contribute to formal contract negotiations with senior level staff from external stakeholders, providing a high level of negotiating expertise to secure the most advantageous arrangements.

Work closely with operational colleges to ensure contractual performance targets are achieved. 

Work closely with the Heads of other Departments or Directorate to ensure that units understand and adhere to rules and standards, intervening as appropriate.

Ensure the securing of value for money, giving due consideration to all relevant factors including risk, quality and other factors.

Ensure contracts are in place, especially for provider to provider arrangements, including clear clinical specifications

Review contracted services at regular intervals, and identify any fundamental changes required.

Be required to use their own high level of contracting and commercial expertise to deliver an innovative and ambitious approach to the Trust’s business obligations and opportunities and the associated contract structures. This may include conversations where there are barriers to understanding/acceptance.

Undertaking highly complex and contentious negotiations with Directors and Senior Managers of Commercial and public sector organisations to ensure best value and minimising risk to the Trust.

Protect the financial and contractual and integrity of the Trust through the analysis of third-party contracts

Work with the Associate Director of Income & Contracting and the Director of Finance to ensure the strong development and continued growth of the Trust’s contract management function. This will include the development of robust systems and processes to ensure the Trust’s contractual obligations are delivered. This will include the management of sub-contracts and provider to provider agreements.

Ensure that best practice is developed and delivered at organisational and departmental levels. Challenge ways of working and persuade, motivate and influence other senior managers to realign their practice where necessary.

To maintain compliance with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions  

Acts as deputy to the Associate Director of Income and Contracting on agreed and appropriate occasions.

Oversea database maintenance ensuring it is up to date

Other Operating Income

To support the Associate Director of Income and Contracting on non-commissioning income management for the Trust – with particular reference to Provider to Provider agreements

To develop and maintain up to date processes to ensure all income is reported and contracted (where applicable) so disclosed correctly in the financial position.

To provide expert knowledge and financial advice on negotiating and agreeing contracts.

To participate actively in developing the vision, strategy and plans for income and contracting, taking account of the impact across the service lines and the organisation overall.

Reporting

Reporting of contractual issues and effect to various Boards and sub-committees

Provider Selection Regime

Familiarity with PSR and how it effects contracting

Liaison with the Procurement Department

Private Patients & Overseas Visitors

Support in the production of an annual price list to support the Private Patient office in line with Trust strategy.

Support on the financial support to the Private Patients Office.

Support with Private Patient insurance company negotiations

Support on financial support for Overseas Visitors.

Research and Development

Support, in general, to the Research & Development department of the Trust

Policy and Procedure

Responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the policies and procedures associated with the management of contracts.

To contribute to the strategic direction of the Finance team including reviewing the key external partnership collaborations

Communications and Working Relationships

The post holder will require excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills.

The post holder will be required to present highly complex and highly sensitive financial information to large audiences of varying experience.  This will require highly developed presentation and influencing skills.

The post holder will require negotiation and persuasive skills when communicating contentious information to staff and directorates where there may be significant barriers to acceptance.

Staff Management and Training

Be responsible for the overall management of the Contracting and Costing team, including motivating staff to meet deadlines and targets, recruitment, training, appraisal, implementation of HR policies and dealing with disciplinary/performance issues.

Be responsible for the personal development of the teams and ensure that every member of staff is regularly appraised and has a Personal Development Plan.

Maintain an up to date, in depth specialist knowledge – theory and experience – of contract management, contractual and financial aspects of NHS legislation and NHS policies.

To ensure relevant finance and service staff are appropriately briefed on contract developments through the use of seminars, briefing papers and targeted distribution lists.