Commissioning & Contacting Manager

NHS; Port Talbot; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare group in the UK is seeking a leader for their Strategic Commissioning and Sustainability Team. This role involves managing budgets, overseeing the commissioning process, and ensuring compliance with all-Wales policies. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree or equivalent management experience in the NHS, with strong skills in communication, planning, and relationship management. A commitment to quality services in a dynamic healthcare environment is essential.

Benefits

Professional training and development opportunities

Thrive in a forward-thinking organisation

Qualifications

• Experience in managing budgets.
• Significant experience in planning and commissioning healthcare services.
• Ability to interpret legislation and national policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Commissioning & Contracting function for the Health Board.
• Develop performance monitoring systems to ensure contract activity.
• Hold full line management responsibility for the team.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Planning skills

Commissioning skills

Relationship management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job summary

A fantastic opportunity to join the Swansea Bay University Health Board Planning & Partnerships Directorate has arisen and we are looking for a new addition to our Strategic Commissioning and Sustainability Team who can operate in the fast-paced and exciting environment.

2025 will see the creation of a new centralised commissioning function within the Health Board for continuing healthcare (CHC) and the postholder will play a key role in embedding the function within corporates services whilst continuing to maintain effective relationships and communication with clinical teams. You will need excellent communication, planning, commissioning and relationship skills to build this team in order to establish a robust individual patient commissioning function within the Health Board.

The post holder will play a key leadership role in ensuring that effective processes are in place for the Health Board to adhere to the all-Wales policies for Individual Patient Funding Requests (IPFR), Prior Approval and Medicines Top-ups. The post holder will also work with case managers and providers to ensure that continuing healthcare (CHC) placements are underpinned by robust contracting and performance management arrangements.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will lead the Commissioning & Contracting function for the Health Board (HB). This will include the identification, co-ordination and development of contracting arrangements to ensure that the commissioned services are right for the HB's resident population. The post-holder will:

o Lead the procurement process of commissioned services from a range of providers (e.g. neighbouring HBs, Voluntary Sector, Independent Providers)

o Work independently; guided by broad and specific local and national guidelines in shaping, negotiating and monitoring the commissioning arrangements, linking these requirements to the HB's integrated medium-term plan (IMTP) to ensure high quality service models that reflect the needs of the resident population.

o Work with key stakeholders to develop performance monitoring systems to ensure agreed levels of contract activity are delivered

o Hold full line management responsibility for the team including recruitment, performance appraisals and absence management

o Deputise for Senior Management as required within their specific area of responsibility

About us

We believe staff are our best asset and wewant you to be happy and confident about starting your career here in Swansea Bay University Health Board.

As one of the biggest healthcare groups in the UK we can offer a wealth of professional training and development opportunities in an innovative, forward-thinking organisation.

You might be a nurse ordoctor, maybe you specialise in a health science/therapy or can offer skills in one of our support services - wehave a job for you.

There are also apprenticeships, work placementsand volunteering roles available.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everyone whatever their sex; religion or belief; race; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or, whether they are pregnant or have recently been on maternity leave, married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled.

Our values - Caring For Each Other, Working Together and Always Improving, show thatour commitment to equality is at the heart of everything we do.

If you want excellent career and training opportunities while living on the doorstep of some of Europe's most spectacular scenery,with all the benefits of a thriving and cosmopolitan city - look no further.

Details Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£56,514 to £63,623 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

130-AC139-0725

Job locations

SBUHB Headquarters

1 Talbot Gateway, Seaway Parade, Baglan

Port Talbot

SA12 7BR

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for a detailed outline of the job requirements. This is available for you bilingually, in English and Welsh.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for a detailed outline of the job requirements. This is available for you bilingually, in English and Welsh.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification Qualifications & Knowledge Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience at management level within the NHS
• Evidence of continuous management and personal and professional development
• Specialised knowledge of the NHS Commissioning process, of benchmarking information and its uses, of NHS Management policies and procedures, service provision criteria and commissioning responsibilities
• Extensive understanding of NHS contracting and procurement models including budgeting and resource allocation procedures. Sound up to date knowledge and understanding of performance management and measurement tools.
• In depth knowledge of extracting, validating and analysing complex and sensitive data required in managing patient activity.

Experience Essential

• Experience in managing budgets.
• Demonstrable significant experience in performing complex numerical calculations including forecasting activity and financial values and presenting them in a suitable format for non-finance managers.
• Experience of planning and commissioning of healthcare services for patients/service users.
• Experience of collaborative and partnership working across organisations at a senior level.

Aptitude and abilities Essential

• Ability to use the full suite of Microsoft office including virtual platforms, to present highly complex and contentious information to a wide variety of audiences in a variety of formats.
• Ability to respond to tight deadlines and work autonomously and self-direct in all areas of work.
• Able to interpret legislation and national policy as appropriate to the role.
• Ability to problem solve and use initiative to identify potential solutions to challenges for services, to multi-task and deal with an unpredictable and frequently changing workload.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a manner which is clear, fluent and persuasive, to lead discussions and influence decisions at a senior level within the LHB and across partner organisations.

Person Specification Qualifications & Knowledge Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience at management level within the NHS
• Evidence of continuous management and personal and professional development
• Specialised knowledge of the NHS Commissioning process, of benchmarking information and its uses, of NHS Management policies and procedures, service provision criteria and commissioning responsibilities
• Extensive understanding of NHS contracting and procurement models including budgeting and resource allocation procedures. Sound up to date knowledge and understanding of performance management and measurement tools.
• In depth knowledge of extracting, validating and analysing complex and sensitive data required in managing patient activity.

Experience Essential

• Experience in managing budgets.
• Demonstrable significant experience in performing complex numerical calculations including forecasting activity and financial values and presenting them in a suitable format for non-finance managers.
• Experience of planning and commissioning of healthcare services for patients/service users.
• Experience of collaborative and partnership working across organisations at a senior level.

Aptitude and abilities Essential

• Ability to use the full suite of Microsoft office including virtual platforms, to present highly complex and contentious information to a wide variety of audiences in a variety of formats.
• Ability to respond to tight deadlines and work autonomously and self-direct in all areas of work.
• Able to interpret legislation and national policy as appropriate to the role.
• Ability to problem solve and use initiative to identify potential solutions to challenges for services, to multi-task and deal with an unpredictable and frequently changing workload.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a manner which is clear, fluent and persuasive, to lead discussions and influence decisions at a senior level within the LHB and across partner organisations.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Swansea Bay University Health Board

Address

SBUHB Headquarters

1 Talbot Gateway, Seaway Parade, Baglan

Port Talbot

SA12 7BR

Employer's website

https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Swansea Bay University Health Board

Address

SBUHB Headquarters

1 Talbot Gateway, Seaway Parade, Baglan

Port Talbot

SA12 7BR

Employer's website

https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)