Job summary
- Main area
- Commissioning and Contracting
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 321-CORP-7121563-B8a-PUB
- Employer
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Unipart House - Cowley
- Town
- Oxford
- Salary
- £53,755 - £60,504 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/06/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 18/06/2025
Employer heading

Commissioning and Contracts Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values
Job overview
Proposed interview date - Wednesday 18/06 (subject to change)
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the Commissioning Team at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Reporting to the Head of Commissioning you will play a key role in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Acting as the interface between commissioners (Integrated Care Boards, Local Authorities, Specialised Commissioning) and Trust service staff.
As one of the country's largest acute teaching hospitals we have c£1.3bn (annually) of services and activity under contract. The range of services we offer combined with our geographic reach relies on effective contract management alongside regular liaison with colleagues across the Trust. The post holder will play a lead role in coordinating the delivery of key objectives as part of the commissioning team. This will include monitoring and analysis of service provision, supporting service development, managing contracts and leading on the drug portfolio.
We are looking for an individual with excellent interpersonal skills who enjoys a challenge and is able to deal with competing deadlines and changing priorities. Ideally would have experience of working within an NHS organisation with a good understanding of the commissioning function.
Main duties of the job
The commissioning function within the Trust exists to manage the commissioner/provider interface to the benefit of the organisation. It performs the following key functions:
• Commissioner relationship management
• Contract negotiation
• Contract management
• Divisional Commissioning Contact Lead
Key areas of responsibility will include:
Provide receive, and analyse highly complex information which also includes the interpretation of national guidance.
Production of contract documents & performance information
Liaison with internal and external stakeholders
Drugs Portfolio
Lead on identifying and resolving drug data issues and constraints across the Trust.
Awareness and application of legal and financial requirements of Private sector contracts.
Working for our organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder is accountable to the Head of Commissioning.
· You will provide a pro-active, comprehensive, and high-quality contracts service in relation to a wide-ranging portfolio of contracts including NHS, Local Authorities and Private Sector contracts, for both clinical and corporate services.
· Advising Trust planning and Finance committees on drug spending forecasts in order to inform budget setting. You will be the key link with Pharmacy, responsible for the commissioner annual drug plan proposals and leading on the external and internal interpretation of guidance on new drugs and drug circulars. Be an active member of: High-Cost Drug Meetings, MMTC and Radio pharmaceutical Evaluation and assurance Group.
· Leading on the commissioning of drugs. Resolve issues and challenges relating to drugs, internally and externally. Liaison with external commissioners, OUH pharmacy and OUH clinical services as well as keeping Trust executives informed of this high spend area.
· Liaise with Divisions to review activity and performance and provide support with service developments. Support Divisions with annual planning requirements.
· Line manage the band 7 commissioning manager post, which will include day to day management , teaching and development of this post.
· Day to day management; teaching, devise training, development
Person specification
Education and Experience
Desirable criteria
- Educated to Degree Level
- 3 years experience working in the NHS
Knowledge
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of SLAM System
- Knowledge of NHS 25/26 Planning Guidance
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Philippa Darwent
- Job title
- Head of Commissioning
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07960060736
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