Procurement Strategic Contracts Manager

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UHDB is seeking a Strategic Contract Manager to oversee a portfolio of high value contracts, negotiate, monitor performance, and drive cost improvements. You will provide expert contract advice to clinical, operational and financial colleagues and report to the Deputy Director of Procurement.

Working with stakeholders across the Trust and wider ICS, you will ensure compliance with procurement legislation and governance, lead on disputes, and identify opportunities to maximise value while

Job description

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

With over 14,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services. The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.

As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds. All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.

Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme

To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities. This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.

if you are blind or visually impaired and require application material in an alternative format- such as Braille, large print, audio or accessible electronic formats oryou require support/adjustments with your application please contact the recruitment team on 01332 788466

The Trust is proud to be a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant and is committed to supporting care-experienced people into employment.

Applicants who identify as a care leaver and who meet the essential criteria for the role, as detailed in the person specification, will be guaranteed an interview.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this within your application.

Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for;

Job overview

The post-holder is responsible for the oversight, management, and maximisation of commercial opportunities throughout the contract term, of a defined portfolio of strategic non pay spend contracts. This includes effective negotiation, implementation, performance monitoring, risk management and innovation in line with NHS guidance and the Trust’s financial plan.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Procurement the role provides expert contractual advice to clinical, operational, and finance colleagues, using complex performance, activity, and financial data to inform contract monitoring, validation, forecasting, and senior decision-making, while supporting annual planning and contracting cycles and the development of supplier relationship management processes within the Trusts contract management database

Working with a high degree of autonomy, the Strategic Contract Manager ensures compliance with procurement legislation, national policy, Standing Financial Instructions, and audit requirements, developing standard operating procedures and undertaking audits of high-risk contracts.

The role includes deputising for the Deputy Director of Procurement and Head of Procurement when required, providing contractual support and guidance to the wider procurement team, representing the Trust confidently at internal and external forums, and building strong relationships with suppliers and senior stakeholders to communicate complex contractual and financial risks clearly and effectively.

• Responsible for managing strategic contracts within a portfolio valued at >£100m per annum.
• Supports through contracts optimisation in the delivery of annual procurement enabled savings and cost improvements of c£4m per annum.
• Drives value through effective contracts management including performance, quality, and cost control initiatives.
• Manages multiple active strategic contracts across clinical and/or corporate categories.
• Manages relationships with strategic / critical suppliers.
• Works across Trust, Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and East Midlands collaborative boundaries
• Advises senior operational, clinical, and executive stakeholders.
• Hold suppliers accountable for delivery against KPIs, SLAs, and contractual outcomes.
• Leads formal dispute resolution, escalation, and performance improvement plans.
• Influences supplier markets through research & innovation
• Ensures compliance with procurement legislation, Trust governance, and audit requirements.
• Identifies and mitigates contractual risk, ensuring continuity of critical services.
• Responsible for projects that impact across services

Closing date of applications: 6th October 2026

Interview date: 20th October 2026

Working for our organisation

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Important visa information:

Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children - GOV.UK

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa

Read about the Health and Care Visa for employing overseas nationals (excluding Irish citizens) under the points-based immigration system.

Person specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

• Understanding of relevant legislation, procurement law, and national policy frameworks affecting NHS contracting.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in contracting, procurement, or NHS management
• Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., procurement, business administration, contract management)

Experiance & Knowledge

• Extensive experience of contract management within the NHS or a large complex organisation.
• Extensive experience leading on contract negotiation, drafting and monitoring.
• Extensive experience of interpreting and implementing NHS standard contracts and national tariff guidance.
• Experience of deputising for senior managers, providing cover at internal and external forums.
• Experience working in healthcare provider contract management.
• Experience of collaborative working across systems
• Direct line management of staff, including objective setting, mentoring appraisal and staff development.

Skills and Ability

• Extensive ability to interpret complex data and contractual information to support decision making.
• Extensive experience of financial and risk analysis in a contracting environment
• Ability to evaluate commercial opportunities, cost-benefit cases, and options appraisals.

Communications and interpersonal skills

• Extensive strong negotiation, influencing and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information.
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across boundaries
• Experience of presenting at committees or boards

Values and Behaviours

• Committed to and demonstrates the Trusts values of compassion, openness and excellence
• Commitment to continuous improvement and collaborative working.
• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability under pressure.

Our Trust aims to provide the highest quality care to patients within Derbyshire and South East Staffordshire and we want the very best people to work with us.

Follow us on Twitter @UHDBTrust or find us on Facebook & LinkedIn - UHDBTrust

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

At UHDB , we offer different ways to work flexibly to each and every one of our colleagues, many of whom already work flexibly at all sites of the Trust.

For our roles we are open to discussing the possibility of part-time/ reduced hours/ compressed hours/ flexible start and finish times/ fixed/flexible shifts/annualised hours/ term time hours/ hybrid working – working partly in the trust/partly at home.

Why don’t you talk to us at interview about the flexibility you would like to explore and what it means to you, and we will discuss what’s possible for the job and team, and the opportunities we might be able to create together.

We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise to work with you to look at all the available options.

Most of our posts are subject to a DBS check, however having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from obtaining a position. Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent to you via our trac.system account. Please ensure that you regularly check your emails; this includes junk/spam, as your security settings may not recognise the sender.

Anyone from outside of the UK (excluding from the Republic of Ireland) will need permission from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to work in the UK and may also need entry clearance before travelling here.

UKVI is responsible for managing migration. To obtain a visa or entry clearance, you will need to meet certain requirements and demonstrate you have the right the work in the UK via:

• the points-based immigration system
• the EU settlement scheme