NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB
Contracting is a statutory responsibility for the ICB. By its powers under the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 (as amended), NHS England mandates that the NHS Standard Contract must be used by ICBs and by NHS England when commissioning NHS-funded healthcare services.
Main duties of the job
Contracting plays a pivotal role in supporting portfolio leads in enacting and performance managing services commissioned by the organisation. The aim of this role is to provide expert technical contracting support including coordination of contract schedules and the production of contracts. The role will support portfolio leads in their leadership of contract performance undertaken through contract reviews, enhanced oversight, and ICS delivery groups. This includes planning and preparing materials for contract review and enhanced oversight meetings in liaison with the portfolio leads.
Provide expert advice and support to portfolio leads in managing the lifecycle of the contract including procurement, in line with ICB policies and legal procurement regulations. Provide contractual advice on options for service changes or the establishment of new services to be provided, liaising with the procurement service, and ensuring advice is consistent with ICB policies. The role supports the business in provision of efficient and coordinated production and management of contracts, including coordination of contract documentation and checklists for contract signature and ICB governance assurance.
The role is designed to build a combination of subject matter expertise and technical skills to develop strong business support to the organisation for contracting and associated procurement planning at contract expiry.
About us
Are you passionate about health and social care and looking for a role that offers flexibility and growth? At Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, we value work-life balance and offer a range of flexible working options, including hybrid working. Enjoy a supportive team environment and a competitive salary. Apply now to make a difference in our community!
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Contract Manager to join our Contracting and Procurement team. Applicants who meet the Person Specification will require additional pre-employment checks in line with NHS England statutory guidance.
Job responsibilities
Working Relationships
* Operate effectively in a flexible and demanding environment and proactively engage with NHS colleagues and provider teams on a variety of topics.
* Support the portfolio leads in undertaking their contractual management responsibilities.
* Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, presenting information to a wide range of stakeholders in a formal setting.
* Deal with potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations.
* Engage constructively with internal and external stakeholders on a range of business-sensitive issues.
* Liaise with portfolio leads and ICS Delivery Groups to ensure that activity, financial and quality-related requirements discussed in non-contractual forums are recorded for contractual management purposes.
* Communicate information and issues, including briefings and reports, to job manager, portfolio leads, and ICS Delivery Groups as appropriate.
Functional Responsibilities
* Work with team members across the organisation to deliver the requirements listed above; engage and liaise with key stakeholders.
* Support the delivery of day-to-day activities and projects.
* Identify and share best practices and local responses to national guidance in relation to contracting.
* Operate in a highly political and sensitive environment.
* Provide portfolio leads with the necessary contractual information to inform and support key provider relationships and meetings.
Project Management
* Lead the delivery of project plans related to contracting, allocating tasks as appropriate, identifying risks, issues, and dependencies.
* Provide expert contact advice to portfolio leads in managing the requirement to accredit any new providers under the NHS Choice Framework.
* Ensure a high standard of work supporting the delivery of project work on time, to quality standards, and in a cost-effective manner.
* Maintain associated project documentation and plans with regular team meetings to monitor progress and resources.
* Plan and organize numerous events/meetings in liaison with portfolio leads across the organisation.
* Demonstrate effective stakeholder management across different departments and at all levels.
* Support other team members as required.
Financial and Physical Resources
* Act in compliance with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions in the discharge of budget management responsibilities.
* Make recommendations, provide advice, and prepare strategic reports/briefings for portfolio leads and senior members of the business support function.
Information Management
* Draft reports summarizing status on issues, appraising outcomes, and providing progress reports for portfolio leads across the organisation.
* Ensure the contract database is accurate for contracts and is used as a repository for all associated governance evidence for contracting decisions.
* Develop reporting functions of the contract database to support oversight of the status of contracts and proactive management of contract expiry.
* Collate qualitative and quantitative information and analyze, interpret, and present data to highlight issues, risks, and support decision-making.
Policy and Service Development
* Maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies from government departments in relation to contracting and procurement including both the Public Contract Regulations and the Provider Selection Regime.
* Be conversant with the ICB procurement policy and ensure advice given is consistent.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
* Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in contracting.
* Evidence of post-qualifying and continuing professional development.
* Knowledge of the commissioning cycle and NHS planning business cycle.
* Knowledge of contracting and procurement either within NHS or a sector of comparable complexity.
* Appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHSE, the ICS and its constituent partners.
* Experience of managing contractual arrangements of large contracts.
* Member of relevant professional body.
Communication Skills & Analytical
* Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
* Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
* Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
* Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
* Ability to analyze complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
* Make decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
* Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
Planning & Management
* Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
* Commercial skills, including experience in developing strategic supplier relationships.
* Ability to work effectively between strategic and operational activities where required.
* Must be able to prioritize own work effectively.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB
Associate Director Contracts and Procurement
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