Contracts Manager

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Contracts Manager to join our award-winning Contracts team. You will deliver robust contract management to safeguard income and support service changes in line with national guidance and contractual agreements.

The role requires engaging with clinical and managerial colleagues to translate commissioning aspects of new care models, manage subcontracts, and ensure governance and audit trails.

Qualifications

• Experience in comprehensive contract management within the NHS.
• Ability to engage with clinical and managerial teams.
• Strong IT skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Deliver robust contract management to maintain and increase income.
• Lead provider selection and contract award processes.
• Mitigate contractual risks and ensure compliance with NHS regulations.
• Build strong relationships with ICBs, lead providers, and local authorities.

Education

Degree level education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking to recruit a Contracts Manager to join our award winning Contracts team.

The successful candidate will deliver robust and appropriate contract management, ensuring that the income to the Trust is maintained and increased to reflect agreed services changes and in line with national guidance and contractual agreements. This extends to include clinical subcontracts which supports service provision partnerships.

The successful candidate will have strong IT skills and competent in the use of Microsoft Office, an understanding of the complexities of NHS finances and contracting.

You will engage with clinical and managerial teams to translate the commissioning aspects of new models of care for patients so services are improved, income protected, and debt reduced.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for c omprehensive contract management, maintaining technical knowledge and in year contract management.

To promote excellent working relationships with all c ommission ers which include s ICBs, Lead Provider Collaboratives and Local Authorities allowing early dialogue on changing commissioning intentions on either service models and/or potential providers. The post-holder will need to work to tight and conflicting deadlines and have a high level of resilience.

To carry out investigation and analysis which will support option appraisal and decision making with a view to developing the Trust's business whilst managing existing contracts.

To engage with clinical and managerial teams to translate the commissioning aspects of new models of care for patients so services are improved, income protected, and debt reduced. To ensure the Contract Team provides a highly effective and responsive contracts management service to the Trust, ensuring Trust compliance with contractual requirements, identifying and mitigating contractual risks (to minimise Trust’s exposure), whilst delivering its operations in line with Trust’s values and objectives.

To l ead and manage PSR-compliant provider selection and contract award processes, ensuring statutory compliance, robust governance, transparent decision-making, effective stakeholder engagement, and comprehensive audit trails in line with NHS regulations and organisational policies.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see 'documents to download' section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust's Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust's Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust's Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person specification

Qualifications

• Education to degree level or equivalent.
• Management (e.g. MBA) or professional qualification at postgraduate level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Evidence of relevant professional training and / or qualification (e.g. PRINCE2)

Knowledge and Expertise

• Excellent technical knowledge of the contracting arrangements between Foundation Trust and commissioners and the issues that can trigger risk for both parties
• Experience in a management role in the NHS, including managing people and budgets
• Clear understanding of strategic direction of CWP
• Proven experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with key internal and external individuals, developing alliances and partnerships
• Advanced written and verbal presentation, communication skills, demonstrating excellent attention to detail
• Understanding of NHS policy, key targets, and the NHS financial and commissioning processes
• A sound knowledge of and experience of project management skills in the development of new services
• Proven ability to work in a challenging performance management environment, delivering on targets within agreed timescales
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact on service provision of DH strategy and Foundation Trust Status
• Experience of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities or Community Physical health services

Experience

• In-depth knowledge and experience of public sector contract management
• Working knowledge of NHS environment
• Good understanding of commerciality in the NHS
• Experience in leading others to interpret national policies and guidance (DoH, NHSI etc.) and develop internal procedures accordingly
• Project management skills (including a track record of delivering highly complex projects)
• Responding to bids and tenders
• Well-developed negotiating and influencing skills
• Experience of developing business plans / cases which support corporate and clinical service objectives
• Adaptable and flexible with the ability to act autonomously and manage own and teams’ work priorities
• Keeping projects on track in a busy and demanding work environment
• Experience of dealing with conflict
• In-depth knowledge and experience of contractual processes within an NHS environment
• Experience of working in a complex busy and demanding environment / workplace
• Knowledge and experience in the use of project management software
• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Katie Clark Job title Head of Operational Finance Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07743452938 Additional information

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact [e-mail] or telephone [phone]

Giving you time to care, space to think and opportunity to grow

We are Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP). We provide health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care - including the provision of three GP surgeries.

We have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.

Our services are provided in partnership with commissioners, local authorities, voluntary and independent organisations, people who access our services, their carers and families. The Trust has over 14,500 members and employs more than 4,000 staff across 62 sites, serving a population of over one million people and highly specialist services for two million people.

We offer career opportunities to staff across a range of professions, including:

• Allied health professions - including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and speech and language therapy
• Medical - including psychiatry and general practice
• Pharmacy
• Clinical support roles
• Estates and facilities
• Support services roles - including HR, communications, ICT,finance and more

At CWP, we believe in giving our staff the time to care, the space to think and the opportunity to grow.

With vacancies across a range of professions, wherever you’re at in your career journey, you’ll find something to suit you. So why not join our team today?