Head of Contracts

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust; Bath; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Staff discounts

Onsite facilities

Job summary

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Head of Contracts to lead the contracting function, drive negotiations, and maximise income while managing risk and ensuring NHS contract compliance. You will work with senior finance and system leaders to support sustainability and service transformation across the ICS and BSW Group.

The role requires significant NHS contracting, commissioning or healthcare finance expertise, with strong analytical, negotiation and stakeholder management

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant with knowledge of NHS contracting.
• Experience in income management within the NHS or similar health system.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex contract negotiations with commissioners and system partners.
• Oversee the management, performance and governance of NHS contracts.
• Ensure robust income forecasting, reconciliation and income recovery processes.
• Provide expert advice on contractual, commercial and financial risks and opportunities.
• Lead contract performance reporting and assurance processes.
• Support the implementation of national payment mechanisms and contracting reforms.
• Develop strong collaborative relationships across the Trust, BSW Group and ICS partners.

Skills

NHS contracting

Negotiation

Strategic leadership

Education

Qualified Accountant

Job description

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and strategic leader to join our Finance team as Head of Contracts.

This pivotal role will lead the Trust's contracting function, ensuring effective negotiation, management and performance of commissioning and provider contracts. Working closely with senior finance, operational and system leaders, you will maximise income, manage contractual and financial risk, and ensure compliance with national contracting frameworks and NHS Standard Contract requirements.

You will play a key role in supporting the Trust's financial sustainability, leading complex negotiations with commissioners, advising on national payment mechanisms and developing strong partnerships across the Integrated Care System (ICS) and BSW Group. The role offers an excellent opportunity to influence organisational strategy, support service transformation and drive continuous improvement within a high-performing team.

You Will

• Lead complex contract negotiations with commissioners and system partners.
• Oversee the management, performance and governance of NHS contracts.
• Ensure robust income forecasting, reconciliation and income recovery processes.
• Provide expert advice on contractual, commercial and financial risks and opportunities.
• Lead contract performance reporting and assurance processes.
• Support the implementation of national payment mechanisms and contracting reforms.
• Develop strong collaborative relationships across the Trust, BSW Group and ICs partners.
• Lead, motivate and develop the Contracts Team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

We are looking for an experienced NHS contracting, commissioning or healthcare finance professional with excellent analytical, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to influence at senior levels.

This role may require travel across sites and partner organisations and is subject to rotational opportunities.

Working for our organisation

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is part of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Hospitals Group, alongside Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Together, we are committed to delivering outstanding, sustainable healthcare through collaboration, innovation and excellent patient care. With a history spanning more than 250 years, SFT combines a proud heritage with a forward-looking approach to healthcare. We employ more than 4,000 staff, provide around 470 beds and deliver acute, specialist and regional services across Wiltshire and beyond.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where colleagues feel valued, developed and empowered to reach their potential.

Flexible working helps colleagues balance work and personal commitments while meeting the needs of patients.

• NHS benefits including the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, staff discounts and onsite facilities.

Salisbury offers an exceptional quality of life, combining a historic city with beautiful countryside, access to the south coast and excellent transport links. Find out more at Experience Salisbury.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Qualified Accountant
• Knowledge of NHS Contracting

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in NHS Contracting or Income

Accounting Experience

Essential criteria

• Understanding of Income within the NHS

Desirable criteria

• Experience reporting Income within the NHS

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Head of Contracts - Job Description (PDF, 328.4KB)

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Sarah Wisher-Davies. Job title Associate Director - Income and Contracts. Email address [e-mail]