Contracts Manager

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; St Blazey Gate; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in St Blazey Gate is seeking a Contracts Manager to oversee NHS contracts, ensure compliance with legal standards, and engage with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have a degree-level education, experience in contract management, and strong leadership abilities. This role is pivotal in supporting healthcare delivery and driving efficiency across contracts. Only current NHS employees in Cornwall can apply.

Qualifications

• Experience in interpreting and drafting contracts in complex environments.
• Ability to work independently and make informed decisions.
• Background in managing performance of contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee a portfolio of NHS contracts, ensuring compliance.
• Engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategic planning and service improvements.

Skills

Contract Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Planning

Financial Monitoring

Leadership

Education

Degree level education or equivalent experience in Project or Contract Management

Specialist training in Procurement/Contract Management

Job description

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Contracts Manager

The closing date is 08 December 2025

The Contracts Manager plays a key role within the contracts team, reporting to the Head of Contracts and accountable to the Deputy Director of Finance. This position works closely with procurement partners to manage healthcare contracts across designated areas, ensuring compliance with local and national policies, relevant legislation, and performance standards. The role requires a strong project and contract management approach to support planning and delivery, enabling the organisation to achieve contractual outputs, outcomes, and benefits. Commissioned services and those delivered by the organisation must be underpinned by robust NHS contractual and monitoring processes. The post holder will champion quality, service improvement, and transformational change, motivating colleagues to collaborate effectively and drive efficiency. Responsibilities include leading technical and compliance aspects of contracts such as the NHS Standard Contract, Network Contract DES, and APMS, while supporting procurement colleagues to ensure adherence to the Provider Selection Regime. The role also involves drafting, developing, and managing Subcontracts, SLAs, and MOUs. Additionally, the Contracts Manager will contribute to policy development and revisions related to contracts, and communicate requirements to stakeholders through meetings, presentations, and training sessions.

Main duties of the job

Contract Management & Governance: Lead and oversee a portfolio of NHS contracts, ensuring compliance with legal, financial, and organisational policies; maintain documentation, monitor performance, and manage risks or issues effectively.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Engage, influence, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders; including clinicians, management teams, commissioners, and partners to ensure a unified and transparent contract management approach.

Strategic Planning & Service Improvement: Contribute to strategic and operational planning by developing and implementing contract plans, identifying service improvements, and ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and NHS standards.

Financial & Procurement Responsibility: Support compliant procurement processes, monitor contract expenditure within agreed budgets, and ensure adherence to financial governance and standing financial instructions.

Leadership, Mentoring & Development: Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to team members and service leads, promoting professional development, effective workload management, and continuous improvement across the contracts function.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

This job is currently only open to people who already work for the NHS in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. We are committed to supporting our dedicated staff, so only current employees of the following organisations can apply:

• Cornwall Foundation Trust
• Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board

If you do not currently work for one of these NHS organisations, your application will not be considered at this time.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent relevant experience in Project or Contract Management
• Further specialist training or qualification in Procurement/Contract Management, Change Management or Project Management methodologies and principles

Experience

• Demonstrable background of interpreting and drafting contracts in complex and challenging environments
• Experience of forming effective working relationships with colleagues in order to achieve common goals
• Ability to work independently, make informed decisions and achieve objectives whilst working with continually changing demands and priorities
• Experience of managing performance of contracts and contract particulars
• Experience of using the NHS Standard contract and an understanding of the requirements of the NHS Standard contract

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 name

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust