Head of Contracts

Job summary

Wehave an exciting opportunity to join our senior management team and lead ourcontract function asHead of post holder will beresponsible for overseeing the management of a wide portfolio of contracts withNHS Commissioners, other NHS Providers and independent sector providers.

Thesuccessful applicant will havesignificant experience in contracting andleadership within a contracting environment, a good understanding of the NHSStandard contract and NHS Payment Scheme and the changing nature ofcommissioning policy. The successful applicant will also hold the followingskills which are essential to this role:effective communication,negotiation, relationship building and problem-solving skills . They will alsobe well organised, able to implement robust processes and have experience inmanaging projects such as procurements and service mobilisation.

Main duties of the job

The job holder will be expected to work as part of the senior management team within the organisation and with external bodies both within NHS commissioning (ICB) and with NHS and independent sector providers where PCL sub-contracts these services under the relevant company structure. The job holder will lead the contracts function for PCL, managing all contractual negotiations and agreements for services ensuring that appropriate contract governance is in place and providing leadership and management to other members of the contracts team.

About us

LLR Patient Care Locally (PCL) is a key partner supporting the delivery of healthcare for the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. We are a high-performing organisation meeting and achieving the highest standards of quality and governance with among the highest levels of staff and patient goal is to provide commissioned services that are locally based for patients and designed to enhance integrated relationships with other providers of care. These other providers come from a number of sources including primary care, secondary care, and the independent sector. Depending on the nature of the service, we also look to work more collaboratively with agencies such as the Local Authorities. We have a commitment to improving healthcare for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland with services that are delivered locally.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The job holder will be expected to work as part of the senior management team within the organisation and with external bodies both within NHS commissioning (ICB) and with NHS and independent sector providers where PCL sub-contracts these services under the relevant company structure. The job holder will lead the contracts function for PCL, managing all contractual negotiations and agreements for services ensuring that appropriate contract governance is in place and providing leadership and management to other members of the contracts team.

- Responsibilities include but are not limited to working to provide the following across the wider PCL group: To act with compassion and represent the company vision and values at all times during internal and external interactions with a wide range of stakeholders such as ICB colleagues, Sub-Contract Providers, internal management and teams.

- Provide expert advice and leadership with respect to contract negotiation and ongoing management of a complex portfolio of income and expenditure contracts with both NHS and non-NHS bodies.

- Lead on planning and coordinating the contract negotiation process for a broad portfolio of income contracts with various commissioners, ensuring the contracts are within agreed financial parameters and have achievable quality and performance indicators to allow subsequent monitoring of subcontracts and KPIs. PCLs contract portfolio is categorised under four pillars of service delivery, which includes Primary care+ contracts, General Practice+, System facilitation and Direct commissioned contracts

- To review and recommend changes to contract KPIs that strive to improve the quality of services on an annual basis, ensuring that these are kept within the vision and values of the company

- To work with partners and stakeholders to develop efficiencies and enhance the use of digital tools within the contracting process to improve the service that patients receive

- To act as a key point of contact and coordination within the company, understanding the responsibilities of the different teams and ensuring that requirements and feedback for these teams are communicated effectively for example, within the consideration of an expansion of a contracted service or an adjustment to a service pathway

- To act as the gatekeeper for contractual performance information being issued from the company and requests for performance and contractual information coming in above the contract level

- Ensure that any variations to the contracts are deliverable, articulate the comprehensive impact across all contract schedules, and that the impact of the variations is understood both by PCL and by the Commissioners/ sub-contractors;

- Develop effective working relationships with commissioners investigating and responding to queries within agreed timescales

- Work with the ICB to clarify requirements around specific funding streams which may be non-recurrent such as EMCA and Elective Recovery Funding (ERF), demonstrating the benefits of these services being commissioned in order to secure recurrent funding

- Lead on contracts review meetings for complex, higher-value contracts, including ICB meetings, managing relationships with providers in all aspects of contract and performance management, and supporting with operational issues, transformation and pathway changes

- To lead on the relationship between PCL and legal representation, ensuring that the company is protected and remains in line with required regulations and guidance.

- Support PCL with ensuring contracts are agreed and signed in line with the national planning timetable, keeping a view of contractual budgets and impacts of any changes on company contribution profit levels.

- Oversight of monthly performance from providers, including the development and monitoring of trend information and the production of detailed forecasting across the contract portfolio.

- To provide a lead role for all aspects of contractual performance management including working collaboratively with Finance, Business Intelligence, Quality and Operational management and Legal support to deliver required performance outcomes.

- Identify risks within the contract portfolio and develop appropriate mitigation plans and escalate risks appropriately

- Line management of the Contracts Team and responsible for performance appraisal; monitoring performance and achievement of targets.

- Provide advice and expertise in all aspects of contract management to the contracting team and wider organisation

- To lead on advising the organisation around procurement strategies, including

Identifying new contract and tendering opportunities for the organisation based on current services offered and furthering the strategic objectives of the organisation

Advising on procurement strategies to take with regards to different contracts where a competitive process may be required or a direct award would be more appropriate

To advise the organisation on where challenges should be applied to external procurement processes and support with seeking legal advice where appropriate in line with this

- Produce timely, accurate reports as requested for meetings and directorates, including Board level reporting requirements

Person Specification

Other requirements

Essential

- Understanding of basic financial information and how this ties into the contractual relationships/negotiations for the organisation

Desirable

- Experience of project management

Qualifications

Essential

- Educated to a Masters level or equivalent relevant experience, with a post graduate qualification or significant experience in contracting.

Desirable

- Experience of procurement - Diploma in Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) - Contract Management qualification Commercial & Contract Management Practitioner Certification/CIPFA Diploma or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

- Experience in stakeholder management and engagement within and across organisations - Experience of drafting contracts and other documents such as business papers - Significant experience in leading and managing meetings to achieve actions - Experience of working in a leadership position and line management experience

Desirable

- Experience of working in the NHS at a senior level - Experience of both secondary care and primary care contracting/commissioning

Skills

Essential

- Good organisational and negotiation skills - Ability to work unsupervised, self-directed and to set & attain goals. - Build collaborative relationships and solve issues by engaging the right people at the right time - Be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing complex, sensitive and / or contentious information and secure the agreement of cooperation of individuals or groups through well developed and persuasive negotiating skills - Expert user of MS Office applications, including word, excel, PowerPoint - Ability and understanding to review contract and legal documentation, advising senior managers about areas of concern as required - The ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks or projects to deadline

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