Head of Clinical and Corporate Contract Performance

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; Ilford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a proactive commercial leader to oversee a substantial portfolio of clinical and corporate contracts. The role focuses on governance, supplier performance management and value-for-money delivery.

You will work closely with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders to shape procurement outcomes, embedding best practices and driving improvements across the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Leading contract assurance and performance management processes.
• Managing complex contract variations, extensions, novations and remediation programmes.
• Resolving contractual disputes and supplier performance issues.
• Developing contract management frameworks, policies and governance arrangements.
• Identifying and reporting commercial benefits including savings, cost avoidance and service improvements.
• Providing expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders and executive leaders.
• Ensuring compliance with NHS procurement legislation and governance requirements.

Job description

This is a unique opportunity to play a key leadership role within a forward-thinking procurement function, influencing strategic decision-making across one of London's leading mental health, community and specialist provider organisations.

This is a 24 month fixed term contract to undertake this newly funded project. You will be expected to attend the office up to 3 days a week and must attend on site on a Wednesday for the team day.

You Will

• Lead and develop a team of Contract Performance Officers.
• Shape and embed best practice commercial contract management across the Trust.
• Work closely with senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders.
• Influence supplier performance, service improvement and social value outcomes.
• Support major transformation programmes and strategic organisational priorities.
• Build strong partnerships across the North East London Procurement Partnership (NELPP) and wider NHS system.

About The Role

As the operational lead for contract management, you will oversee a substantial portfolio of clinical and corporate contracts, ensuring robust governance, effective supplier performance management and delivery of value for money.

You Will Be Responsible For

• Leading contract assurance and performance management processes.
• Managing complex contract variations, extensions, novations and remediation programmes.
• Resolving contractual disputes and supplier performance issues.
• Developing contract management frameworks, policies and governance arrangements.
• Identifying and reporting commercial benefits including savings, cost avoidance and service improvements.
• Providing expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders and executive leaders.
• Ensuring compliance with NHS procurement legislation and governance requirements.

About You

We're looking for an experienced commercial leader who can combine strategic thinking with operational delivery.

Working for Us

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They Are

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

High Cost Area Supplement Outer London

B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME. This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points‑based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High‑Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

We value applications that genuinely reflect each candidate’s own skills, experience and motivations. We therefore strongly discourage the use of AI-generated content in applications. Applications should be written in your own words and accurately represent your knowledge, skills and experience. We reserve the right to reject an application where we reasonably believe AI has been used to generate or materially contribute to its content.