Lead Contract Specialist (Contracts & Tenders)

Fresenius Medical Care; Huthwaite; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Company Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

33 Days Holiday (incl. bank holidays)

Health cash plan

Annual leave purchase scheme

Long Service Vouchers

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Blue Light card

Job summary

Fresenius Medical Care is seeking a Lead Contracts Specialist to manage complex contracts, tenders and framework agreements within the UK&I Care Enablement portfolio. You will lead commercial negotiations, optimise governance, and strengthen customer and partner relationships while supporting sustainable growth.

The role requires substantial healthcare contracting experience, a deep understanding of NHS/public sector procurement, and a proven track record in leading high‑value tender submissions.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing contracts, tenders and framework agreements in healthcare or highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of public sector procurement frameworks, including NHS tenders and related requirements.
• Proven track record leading complex tender submissions and commercial negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex contract negotiations and commercial discussions with customers and suppliers.
• Manage strategic tenders, bids, framework agreements, and high‑value contracts end‑to‑end.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams to deliver compliant, competitive submissions.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and governance needs across contract lifecycles.
• Provide expert contractual advice to bid strategy and business growth.
• Develop and maintain contract governance frameworks and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, procurement, and governance requirements.
• Oversee tender pipelines, governance approvals, and contract mobilisation.
• Drive continuous improvement in contract management and tender processes.
• Lead audits, performance reviews, and dispute resolution activities.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Tender management

Framework agreements

Public sector procurement

Commercial negotiations

Contract governance

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Job description

Lead Contract Specialist (Contracts & Tenders)

At Fresenius Medical Care, we are the global leader in kidney care, committed to improving the lives of patients with chronic kidney disease. Our mission is to deliver high-quality, innovative products, services, and care across the entire healthcare journey. Guided by our vision— “Creating a future worth living. For patients. Worldwide. Every day— ” we work with purpose and compassion, supported by a global team of over 125,000 employees.

Within our Care Enablement segment, we develop and provide life-sustaining medical products, digital health solutions, and therapies that empower clinical teams and improve patient outcomes. Our FME Reignite strategy drives transformation through innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth.

Our values guide how we work:

• We Care for our patients, each other, and our communities
• We Connect across teams and borders to deliver excellence together
• We Commit to doing things the right way— growing with purpose and leading kidney care with integrity and innovation

As a Centre of Excellence, Commercial Business Services (CBS) drives commercial excellence across Care Enablement. The team delivers market insights, health economics expertise, brand management, and validated marketing and sales strategies. CBS leads the development of commercial tools, processes, and training to support market access, strategic product positioning, and enhance the global customer experience. Join our passionate team and help shape healthcare worldwide!

The Lead Contracts Specialist (Contracts & Tenders) is a strategic commercial expert responsible for managing complex contracts, leading tender and framework activities, and supporting sustainable business growth across the UK&I Care Enablement portfolio. The role leads commercial negotiations, drives effective contract governance, mitigates contractual and financial risks, and ensures compliance with regulatory and procurement requirements. Working closely with senior stakeholders across multiple functions, the successful candidate will provide expert contractual guidance, optimise commercial performance, and strengthen customer and partner relationships while supporting long-term business success.

To be successful in this role, you will already have substantial experience managing contracts, tenders and framework agreements within healthcare, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or another highly regulated environment. You will have a strong understanding of public sector procurement frameworks, including NHS tendering processes, and a proven track record of leading complex tender submissions and commercial negotiations.

This is a full-time, hybrid role of 37.5 hours, working Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Our office is based in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead complex contract negotiations and commercial discussions.
• Manage strategic tenders, bids, framework agreements, and high-value contracts throughout their lifecycle.
• Lead end-to-end tender and bid activities, ensuring compliant, competitive, and commercially sound submissions.
• Review customer requirements, identifying contractual, commercial, operational, and compliance risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to deliver high-quality submissions and contract outcomes.
• Provide expert contractual and commercial advice, supporting bid strategy, negotiations, and business growth.
• Develop and maintain contract governance frameworks, policies, and best practices.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate contractual and commercial risks.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, procurement, and governance requirements.
• Maintain oversight of tender pipelines, governance approvals, contract mobilisation, and performance reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement across contract management, tendering, and commercial processes.
• Lead contract audits, reviews, and dispute resolution activities.
• Represent the Contracts function in strategic and cross-functional initiatives.
• Act as the subject matter expert for contract management, commercial excellence, public sector procurement, framework agreements, and healthcare tendering.

Your Profile:

• Lead complex contract negotiations, commercial discussions, and strategic supplier/customer engagements.
• Manage high-value contracts and commercial agreements throughout the full contract lifecycle.
• Lead strategic tenders, framework applications, and bid submissions, ensuring timely, compliant, and commercially robust responses.
• Review tender and contract requirements, identifying and mitigating contractual, commercial, operational, and compliance risks.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to develop winning bid strategies and commercial solutions.
• Provide expert contractual and commercial advice across the business.
• Develop and maintain contract governance frameworks, policies, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, procurement, and governance requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement across contract management, tendering, and commercial processes.
• Lead contract audits, performance reviews, and dispute resolution activities.
• Analyse tender outcomes and market intelligence to improve future success rates.
• Represent the Contracts function in strategic initiatives and act as the subject matter expert for contract management, public sector procurement, and commercial excellence.

Our Offer for you:

There is a lot you can discover at Fresenius Medical Care, regardless in which field you are an expert and how much experience you have - all dedicated to your professional journey.

• Whether in front of or behind the scenes - you are helping to make ever better medicine available to more and more people around the world
• Individual opportunities for self-determined career planning and professional development
• A corporate culture in which there is enough room for innovative thinking - to find the best solution together, not the quickest one
• A large number of committed people with a wide range of skills, talents and experience
• The benefits of a successful global corporation with the collegial culture of a medium-sized company

Here at Fresenius Medical Care, we value the contribution of our people and ensure that we offer industry-leading rewards and progression.

We offer a competitive salary alongside a wealth of other fantastic benefits listed below:

• Bonus scheme – Based on completion of KPI’s and yearly objectives
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• 33 Days Holiday (inclusive of 8 days bank holiday) increasing with service
• Company paid health cash plan
• Annual leave purchase scheme (with 12 months service)
• Long Service Vouchers
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Blue Light card – providing thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street

Lead Contracts Specialist posts will be subject to a Basic DBS Disclosure

Fresenius Medical Care is an equal opportunities employer