About this role
Job summary
Join NHS West Yorkshire ICB as a Senior Contract Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping highquality, valueformoney services for our population. Sitting within the Contracting & Procurement Team in the Finance & Resources Directorate, you will lead the commissioning, negotiation and performance management of a diverse portfolio of NHS and nonNHS providers.
Based at Scorex House in Bradford, this role is ideal for an experienced contract professional who thrives in a fastpaced, multidisciplinary environment. You will analyse complex data, resolve daytoday contractual issues, drive service improvement, and ensure providers deliver against financial, activity and quality requirements.
We are looking for someone with strong NHS contracting expertise, excellent negotiation and relationshipbuilding skills, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders. You will be a resilient leader, able to manage competing priorities, support colleagues, and uphold our values of collaboration, integrity and reducing health inequalities.
If you want to make a real impact across West Yorkshires health and care system, and enjoy working with autonomy, complexity and purpose, wed love to hear from you.Expected Shortlisting Date 22.10.2026Planned Interview Date 12.11.2026
Main duties of the job
As Senior Contract Manager, you will lead the delivery of a varied and high value contract portfolio, with a strong focus on community based services across West Yorkshire. Working within the Contracting and Procurement Team, you will collaborate closely with commissioners, finance, performance, quality, business intelligence, commissioning leads, community providers, GP federations, local authorities and other ICBs to ensure services deliver quality, robust, high quality outcomes and represent value for money.
You will act as the strategic contract lead for key community providers, overseeing performance frameworks, negotiating contractual changes, resolving issues, and ensuring services meet agreed activity, quality and financial expectations. This includes analysing complex data, identifying risks, managing variation, and ensuring providers implement corrective actions where required.
Your workflow will include leading provider performance meetings, preparing reports for senior leadership, supporting procurement and markettesting exercises, and ensuring robust governance across all community and noncommunity contracts. You will manage competing priorities, deliver timely outputs, and maintain high standards of accuracy in a fastpaced environment.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide expert contractual insight, support colleagues, and contribute to the development and transformation of community services across the ICB.
About us
NHS West Yorkshire ICB is responsible for improving population health and reducing inequalities to meet the diverse health needs of its population and is part of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership which includes organisations, local councils, health and care providers and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes.
We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported, and all our colleagues can reach their full potential.
We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristics.
We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive.
We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves and are offered a working Carer passport.
As a Mindful Employer we are positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicants with a mental health condition.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you require.
Job description Job responsibilities
As a Senior Contract Manager within the Contracting & Procurement Team, you will operate as a senior specialist responsible for leading complex contract portfolios across community and noncommunity services. You will work within the Finance and Resources Directorate, collaborating with finance, business intelligence, commissioning leads, local authorities, GP federations, voluntary sector partners and NHS England colleagues to ensure high quality, value for money services for West Yorkshire.
The role requires advanced contracting expertise, including specialist knowledge of NHS contracting processes, National Tariff Payment Systems contract validation, performance frameworks and service review methodologies. Candidates should hold Foundation Accredited Contract Manager status through the Government Commercial Function, and bring strong analytical capability, negotiation skills and experience operating at a senior level within a contracting or commissioning environment.
You will contribute to procurement activity, supporting tender development, evaluation and clarification processes, and ensuring robust governance throughout. The role involves managing complex provider discussions, resolving contentious issues, and exercising sound judgement where solutions are not immediately clear.
You will also provide leadership within the contracting team, supporting staff development and maintaining high professional standards. The role requires resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage periods of sustained concentration, complex analysis and occasional exposure to challenging stakeholder situations. You will be part of regional and cross ICB workflows, contributing to transformation programmes and Integrated Neighbourhood Health initiatives.
Person Specification
Skills and Behaviours Essential
High level of proficiency in the development of spreadsheets (using excel) to create statistical reports, together with proficiency in the use of word processing, PowerPoint, and e-mail systems. Achievement of challenging deadlines whilst maintaining quality and professional standards Integrity and ability to engender trust and respect from colleagues at all levels. Works effectively with finance, BI, commissioning, local authorities, GP federations, voluntary sector partners and NHSE.
Desirable
Good understanding of the structure and future for the NHS as expressed in policy documents and supporting strategies
Experience Essential
Specialist knowledge of NHS contracting processes e.g., contract validation, National Tariff Payment System (PbR) negotiation, performance requirements, significant relevant experience at a senior level e.g., contract delivery, service review processes, gained within the NHS or commercial healthcare sector Able to interpret complex data, identify risks, and make sound judgements where solutions are not immediately clear. Procurement Contribution Experience supporting tender development, evaluation, clarifications and governance Comprehensive experience of using data and information to understand issues and to formulate recommendations and decisions. Demonstrable experience of working in a management role within a contracting function Leads community and non community contract portfolios with a focus on neighbourhood level outcomes.
Desirable
A comprehensive understanding of the key issues and targets for monitoring performance of a commissioning organisation Experience of working successfully in a multi-disciplinary team
Qualifications Essential
Education to degree level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in contracting and procurement Attained Foundation Accredited Contract Manager status (Government Commercial Function)
Additional Requirements Essential
Proficient in MS Word and Excel
Employer details Employer name NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Address NHS West Yorkshire ICB
Scorex House West
1 Bolton Road
BRADFORD
West Yorkshire
BD1 4AS
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.westyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)