Procurement Strategic Contracts Manager

Kardow; 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, optimise commercial outcomes and drive compliance with NHS guidelines. The role reports to the Deputy Director of Procurement and supports planning cycles and supplier relationship management within the contract management system.

You will provide contractual guidance, manage risk, and deputise for senior procurement leaders as needed, communicating complex risks to stakeholders and ensuring delivery

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing strategic contracts and contract portfolios.
• Ability to use performance and financial data to inform decisions and forecasting.
• Strong negotiation, risk assessment and supplier relationship capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee high-value contracts and a portfolio valued at >£100m per year.
• Provide expert contractual guidance to clinical, operational and finance colleagues.
• Lead audits, compliance with procurement legislation and policy frameworks.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Tools

Contract management software

Job description

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.
• Oversees high-value, high-risk contracts.
• 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.
• Holds 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

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.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: John Williams Job title: Deputy Director of Procurement Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 01332 788466