Job overview

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Southeast Integrated Care Boards; and current at-risk employees within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts.

This is a senior leadership role, responsible for supporting and deputising for the Director and Deputy Director of Contracting in overseeing a complex contract portfolio valued at approximately £4bn. Working closely with colleagues across the Directorate and system, you'll provide strategic, operational and financial leadership to ensure that contractual arrangements deliver value for money and optimal outcomes for patients.

You'll lead the development and implementation of a robust contract management operating model, ensuring all clinical services are underpinned by clear, effective and compliant contractual frameworks. A key focus is enabling high-quality commissioning decision-making through contract monitoring, financial insight and risk management arrangements.

You must have strong knowledge on the NHS payment scheme and support contract finance, including forecasting, reporting and strategic analysis, and plays a central role in supporting the ICB and wider Integrated Care System (ICS) to achieve financial sustainability and meet statutory financial targets. This includes influencing commissioning strategies, advising on contracting models, and supporting system-wide transformation through innovative financial and contractual approaches.

Main duties of the job

As a senior leader, you'll build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with ICB teams, NHS Trusts, independent sector providers and system partners. The role involves leading complex negotiations, representing the contracting function at senior forums, and resolving high-value or contentious contractual issues.

You'll be responsible for leading and developing the contracting and contract finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, professionalism and innovation. This includes supporting the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Director of Contracting in the organisational and professional development of the wider finance function, and driving efficiencies through digital transformation, automation and enhanced use of business intelligence.
Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Associate Director must demonstrate resilience, adaptability and sound judgement in managing a broad and challenging portfolio within a fast-paced and evolving healthcare environment.

• You'll work with the Deputy Director of Contracting to develop the new operating model of for contract management for the ICB.
• This will require both a contracting and contract finance skill set including high levels of energy, versatility, and resilience to manage a complex and challenging portfolio of work.
• Working closely with the AD of Contract finance to ensure contract forecasting and reporting capabilities to support the ICBs financial position.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.

Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions. That’s why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.

We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation. We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.

We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. In order to reflect the diversity of our population, we positively encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation.