Band 8a - Pathology Contracts Manager, HWE ICS Pathology

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Staff wellbeing focus

High cost area allowance included

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an experienced contract management professional to oversee pathology and laboratory service contracts across the HWE IC partnership. The role focuses on negotiating and monitoring SLAs, budgets, activity and provider performance, and giving strategic commercial advice to senior pathology leaders.

You will travel across Trust sites and partner organisations, with core hours to be confirmed.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent senior-level experience in a specialist area.
• Evidence of continuous professional development and training in Trust policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Monitor contracts, budgets, activity, KPIs, quality targets and provider performance.
• Support contract negotiations, amendments and variations, and draft amendments when required.
• Ensure contracts with outsourced pathology providers and external parties are in place.
• Undertake value-for-money assessments and advise on cost pressures and efficiency opportunities.
• Identify and manage contractual, financial and service risks.
• Help resolve complex issues and complaints.
• Analyse activity, demand, capacity and financial information for planning and income recovery.
• Chair contract review meetings and manage provider meetings and actions.
• Prepare complex contractual/financial reports and briefings for senior managers.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Organisational skills

Financial management knowledge

Budgeting

Education

Degree or equivalent senior-level experience

CPD/training in Trust policies and procedures

Job description

This post sits within the HWE IC pathology partnership at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, managing contracts for pathology and laboratory services across the partnership. The work centres on negotiating and monitoring service level agreements, budgets, activity and provider performance, and giving contractual and commercial advice to senior pathology leaders. The role needs travel across Trust sites and partner organisations, with core hours still to be confirmed. Significant contract management and senior NHS experience are central to fit.

What the job involves

• Monitor pathology contracts, budgets, activity, KPIs, quality targets and provider performance, acting where delivery varies from requirements
• Support contract negotiations, amendments and variations, and draft contract amendments where required
• Ensure appropriate contracts are in place with the outsourced pathology provider and other external parties
• Undertake value-for-money assessments and advise on cost pressures, variances and efficiency or income opportunities
• Identify and manage contractual, financial and service risks
• Help resolve complex issues and complaints
• Analyse activity, demand, capacity and financial information to support planning, costing and income recovery
• Chair contract review meetings and manage provider review meetings and resulting actions
• Prepare complex contractual and financial reports and briefings for senior managers, committees and Trust boards
• Support contract and financial modelling
• Contribute to policy, strategic planning and pathology transformation, GIRFT and network development
• Maintain robust records and build relationships with clinicians, finance, procurement, IT, commissioners, the PMO and providers

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent senior-level experience in a specialist area
• Record of continuous professional development and training in Trust policies and procedures

Experience

• Significant contract and performance management experience, including complex contracts
• Experience leading complex commercial negotiations
• Significant management experience in a complex environment
• Significant senior-level experience in the NHS or healthcare sector
• Proven delivery of business plans, projects and milestones, and working in multi-disciplinary teams

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to influence senior leaders to deliver change and work across organisational boundaries
• Strong organisational, planning and prioritisation skills
• Knowledge of NHS governance, procurement and contract management processes
• Knowledge of financial management, budgeting and performance reporting

Other

• Understanding of IC and partnership working, and of national NHS policy, contracting and funding arrangements
• Understanding of risk management, corporate governance, and policies and governance frameworks
• Knowledge of NHS service transformation, commissioning, service development and business case processes

Nice to have

• Training in contract law
• Pathology-specific training
• Project management training, and PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent certification
• Strong understanding of pathology and wider healthcare operational processes
• Knowledge of the NHS Contract Framework and provider contract management
• Knowledge of pathology service delivery models, network and diagnostics transformation
• Awareness of national pathology initiatives, including GIRFT
• Knowledge of healthcare performance, quality and regulatory frameworks, and NHS commissioning and service planning

What’s offered

• Variety of flexible working options
• Focus on staff wellbeing and development
• High cost area supplement included in pay