About this role
Job summary
The Contracts Lead is a pivotal role within the Income, Costing and Contracts team, responsible for the end-to-end management of healthcare service agreements and clinical contracts. This position ensures that the Trust remains contractually compliant while maximising financial recovery and maintaining high standards of service delivery.
By bridging the gap between complex data analysis and strategic relationship management, the postholder plays a critical part in the organization's financial health and operational efficiency.
Under current Home Office Immigration Rules, this role does not meet the UK Visas and Immigration criteria and the position is not therefore eligible for skilled worker sponsorship. Applications from candidates that require skilled worker sponsorship will NOT be shortlisted. If you have NHS Band 7 intermediate grade step eligibility and have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since you got your certificate of sponsorship are extending or updating your visa and got your certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025 you may be eligible in line with currently published Home Office immigration Rules.
**banding subject to Agenda for Change Evaluation**
Main duties of the job Contract Management
End-to-End Management: Lead on the negotiation, documentation, and renewal of NHS clinical contracts, SLAs, and supplier agreements.
Strategic Alignment: Translate commissioning priorities into signed contracts that meet financial, quality, and national regulatory parameters.
Performance Analysis Reporting: Present complex management reports for monthly assurance meetings to ensure contractual compliance Risk & Compliance Expert Advisory: Provide guidance on contractual risk and the NHS Standard Contract, utilising levers, incentives, and penalties to manage compliance.
Overseas Visitors (OSV): Act as the Trust's Operational Lead for OSV regulations, ensuring accurate eligibility assessments and maximum income recovery.
Relationship Management & Representation Stakeholder Engagement: Build partnerships with ICBs, NHS England, and other commissioning bodies to drive service innovation.
Governance & Leadership Systems Management: Maintain the Trust's contracts register, database, and business case tracker, including post-implementation reviews Team Leadership: Provide line management and mentorship to staff, while deputising for the Head of Income, Costing & Contracts.
About us
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH)is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation.
In the National Staff Survey, 74% of our staff would recommend the Trust as a place to work and 92% would recommend the hospital to a friend or relative for treatment.
Joining RJAH is more than just a job - we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role.We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities.
RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham.The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line.We are based in North Shropshire, close to the border with North and Mid Wales. It is one of the most attractive parts of the country, with a rich historic culture and excellent transport links. It offers outstanding opportunities for anyone who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle or is looking to raise a family.
Job description Job responsibilities
Support the Head of Income Costing &Contractswith the performance management of a portfolio of contracts, the post holder will need to analyse and interpret both quantitative and qualitative informationin order toarrive at judgements on performance and the scale and scope of any necessary improvement action.
Manage the full contract lifecycle forService Level Agreements (SLAs) andsuppliercontractsincludingnegotiation, performance management,variationsand renewals working closely with finance business partners and responsible managers
Provide detailed management and performance reports for inclusion in the monthly assurance meeting in a format that enables complex information to be easily understood.
Annual contract negotiation and documentation; supporting the Senior Managers to translate commissioning intentions and priorities into signed contracts that meet national and local requirements, including financial and quality parameters.
Monitor and analyse performance data to ensure contractual compliance, supporting the development of performance dashboards and reporting for services
Interpret complex performance information toidentifythe causes of variation and support improvement actions
Lead the active management of all contracts to ensure contract compliance e.g. - terms, levers,incentivesand penalties are utilised effectively including claims management and ensure that risks are managed and escalated.
Build effective relationships with ICBs, providers, NHSEnglandand local authorities to support service development and innovation.
RepresentRJAHin contract meetings, performance reviews and regional or national forums, including leading internal preparation sessions to ensure a coordinated organisational approach.
Provideexpert advice on contractual risk, compliance and dispute resolution, apply in-depth knowledge of the NHS StandardContractand associated legal requirements.
Support the development of contracting processes, service improvement initiatives, procurement activity,mobilisationand contract governance.
Work autonomously tomaintainup-to-date knowledge of contracting policy changes and adviseRJAHon implications for services and contracts.
Act as the Trusts designated Operational Lead for the Overseas Visitors (OSV) agenda, providing expert interpretation of the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations to ensure statutory compliance,accurateeligibility assessment, and the maximum recovery of income from non-eligible patients.
Maintainthe trust contractsregister anddatabase.
Maintain the trusts Business case tracker and co-ordinate post implementation reviews.
Provide line management, mentoring and professional development support to team members.
Deputise for the Head ofIncome, Costing & Contracts.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree level in a related subject Committed to continued professional development
Experience Essential
NHS contract management or commissioning/provider experience, within the NHS or public sector environments Experience applying national policy changes to contract delivery. Experience developing and maintaining contractual and performance risk registers.
Desirable
Understanding of NHS commissioning, PbR, tariffs. Experience contributing to system level planning or provider collaboration
Skills Essential
Skilled in preparing reports and presenting to senior leaders. Strong decision-making and influencing skills, demonstrated through resolving contractual issues Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills Highly organised with excellent attention to detail Confident communication skills, including presenting complex information. Self-motivated, flexible and driven
Desirable
Senior management experience
Knowledge Essential
Proficient in Microsoft applications, including performance dashboards, reports and analytical tools. Specific knowledge of NHS contracts guidance Good knowledge of contract management Demonstrable understanding of national targets & priorities relating to NHS care Experience managing and developing teams with proven improvements in capability and performance Ability to interpret complex financial data, contract values and activity plans
Desirable
Experience developing commercial models or supporting bids/tenders
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital NHS FT
Gobowen
SY10 7AG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)