Job summary An exciting opportunity has become available for a Business and Performance Contracts Manager at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust. This is a newly created post, which means the successful candidate would be key to help develop and define key performance indicators and success criteria. The post holder will be responsible for the overall management of contracts and service level agreements within Specialised Clinical Services Division (SCSD) the majority of which are within the Diagnostics portfolio of the Division. The initial primary focus will be on the Pathology Department but there may also be a requirement to become involved in other directorates. The successful candidate will ensure the ongoing development and maintenance of a sound contract monitoring system which ensures data accuracy, maximises income and ensures that the Trust receives all the payment due to it for clinical and other work. The post holder will also be responsible for the provision of accurate activity and financial datasets for use in contract negotiations, in-year contract monitoring, business plans and bid submissions. Outside of the main healthcare contracts the post holder will provide a lead role in the area of non-clinical income being responsible for producing comprehensive financial management information to meet external and Trust deadlines. The post holder will work closely with key stakeholders in SCSD, both clinical and non-clinical, as well as colleagues within Procurement. Main duties of the job To support the continued development of the Contracts Department and Trust financial systems and processes. Identify any areas within the scope of the role for improving and developing system based working practices, policies and procedures. Lead the work to ensure that contracts are in place with all relevant commissioners and suppliers and that robust and efficient meetings structures are in place to support effective contract Management. Work with Business Accountants to monitor performance against contracted levels of activity, analysing and understanding any variance, taking appropriate action if necessary. Facilitate meetings with key providers in respect of contract monitoring and measurement; be responsible for reviewing the contract variation processes. To arrange and manage regular monitoring meetings and actions arising from analysis of monitoring reports to ensure contracts are delivering service priorities. To ensure that clear and documented processes and timetables for the production and delivery of all contract monitoring reports are developed, maintained, communicated and effectively delivered. To monitor the income being charged and paid, identify trends variances and then constantly seek to improve underlying understanding of our service. About us Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them. We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do. Our objectives are simple: Best services for local people Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients Best use of resources Best people Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system. We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer. Date posted 20 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number C9365-25-0161 Job locations Charles Hastings Way Worcester Worcestershire WR5 1DD Job description Job responsibilities Contract Negotiation and management 1. Play a leading role in the negotiation of contracts with ICB commissioners, NHSE, other NHS organisations, private Healthcare suppliers and all other provider contracts (with other statutory and non-statutory agencies). Ensuring there is appropriate technical expertise and knowledge available during contract negotiations on how to deliver best value from contracting procedures, terms and conditions and also ensuring any contractual risks are identified as well as ensuring actions and advice to address contractual risk are made. 2. Lead on a portfolio of contracts from procurement through Contract production and then monitoring and management including: 3. To ensure that all contracts and service level agreements are agreed within financial limits and timescales and adhere to legal requirements. The post holder will be expected to liaise with suppliers and providers to negotiate contracts with minimum supervision but within a defined framework. 4. To produce all necessary Contract and service level agreement documentation including Contract Variations. 5. To arrange, attend and minute meetings with Suppliers, Providers and Divisional staff. 6. To ensure that all contractually required reports are received / produced in a timely manner. To work closely with the Finance colleagues to ensure invoices and contract monitoring is produced in a timely manner. 7. To monitor and manage Contractual performance and mitigate and escalate risk to the Head of Procurement as applicable. This may include analysis of historical, referral, financial data & activity trends, and changes in clinical practice. 8. To investigate and independently resolve queries (including formal contractual queries) from Suppliers, Providers and Divisions, in a timely manner. 9. To ensure supplier links are maintained and consistent messages are delivered both internally and externally to the Trust. This will require working closely with Divisions and being aware of Trust policies and positions. 10. To ensure that all National and Legislative documentation and policy is adhered to. 11. To ensure that they know the content of the Trust Contracts and understand any implications relating to performance, quality and information provision and provide guidance on the Contract. 12. Provide an active surveillance service looking for all new healthcare procurement opportunities and bringing these to the attention of Operational teams. Providing a facilitation service to Operations to manage bid completion ITT, PQQ, tender to contract negotiation and sign off, highlighting any business risk and ensuring a due diligence review is completed in each case. 13. Contribute to specific projects, which will bring about an improvement in the provision of health care services within the Trust, in collaboration with operational managers and their teams. 14. The development of processes for embedding performance improvement initiatives and establish mechanisms to ensure the delivery and performance monitoring and reporting of improvements. 15. Supporting a joined-up approach and common focus between Contracts, Finance, Performance, Operations and Quality & Risk. Performance Management 1. Leading the Directorate management teams in the development of business information and intelligence, including the collation, analysis and co-ordination of information relating to the activity, performance and data quality of services 2. Validate data and ensure that it is consistent with financial information and chargeable activity. Demonstrate this to stakeholders & suppliers across the full scope of each contract. 3. Analyse data to ensure the consistency and integrity of Trust reporting and identify, understand and articulate the reasons for any fluctuations. 4. Liaise between stakeholders & suppliers to improve data, data flows and processes. Respond to activity and finance based queries to ensure validity and raise issues of poor and missing data provision. 5. Liaise with Informatics to ensure there is a shared understanding of data rules 6. Promote a data-driven service improvement culture, leading by example and continually encouraging all members of the Division to identify improvements to safety, quality and efficiency of the provision of patient care. 7. Support the development of the Divisional strategy in line with existing contractual arrangements and new contracts. Ensure operational objectives are clear, that they balance quality, safety and efficiency, that robust delivery plans are in place and that performance is proactively measured and supportively managed. 8. Design bespoke spreadsheets and database models to manage activity that does not fall under the National Tariff. 9. Utilise a range of software to present information in a format suited to the end user, e.g. graphs, written reports, scenario modelling. 10. Assist in the development of systems to improve the overall efficiency of the Contracts Team, particularly in the use of computer software to automate tasks. 11. Ensure that all actions are undertaken in accordance with information Governance protocols. 12. Produce monthly internal reports to Trust / Divisional / Operational / Contractual Boards in accordance with strict deadlines. 13. Interpret and distribute complex, sensitive information to Commissioners, Providers and Trust Managers. 14. Identify activity, financial and performance trends, and areas of notable performance to present to suppliers and Trust Managers. Raising performance issues with suppliers and operational colleagues to rectify performance. 15. Meet tight deadlines to ensure timely distribution of contract and performance monitoring and the production of Commissioner and Provider Contracts. 16. Collate monthly statistics from Services for onward distribution. Job description Job responsibilities Contract Negotiation and management 1. Play a leading role in the negotiation of contracts with ICB commissioners, NHSE, other NHS organisations, private Healthcare suppliers and all other provider contracts (with other statutory and non-statutory agencies). Ensuring there is appropriate technical expertise and knowledge available during contract negotiations on how to deliver best value from contracting procedures, terms and conditions and also ensuring any contractual risks are identified as well as ensuring actions and advice to address contractual risk are made. 2. Lead on a portfolio of contracts from procurement through Contract production and then monitoring and management including: 3. To ensure that all contracts and service level agreements are agreed within financial limits and timescales and adhere to legal requirements. The post holder will be expected to liaise with suppliers and providers to negotiate contracts with minimum supervision but within a defined framework. 4. To produce all necessary Contract and service level agreement documentation including Contract Variations. 5. To arrange, attend and minute meetings with Suppliers, Providers and Divisional staff. 6. To ensure that all contractually required reports are received / produced in a timely manner. To work closely with the Finance colleagues to ensure invoices and contract monitoring is produced in a timely manner. 7. To monitor and manage Contractual performance and mitigate and escalate risk to the Head of Procurement as applicable. This may include analysis of historical, referral, financial data & activity trends, and changes in clinical practice. 8. To investigate and independently resolve queries (including formal contractual queries) from Suppliers, Providers and Divisions, in a timely manner. 9. To ensure supplier links are maintained and consistent messages are delivered both internally and externally to the Trust. This will require working closely with Divisions and being aware of Trust policies and positions. 10. To ensure that all National and Legislative documentation and policy is adhered to. 11. To ensure that they know the content of the Trust Contracts and understand any implications relating to performance, quality and information provision and provide guidance on the Contract. 12. Provide an active surveillance service looking for all new healthcare procurement opportunities and bringing these to the attention of Operational teams. Providing a facilitation service to Operations to manage bid completion ITT, PQQ, tender to contract negotiation and sign off, highlighting any business risk and ensuring a due diligence review is completed in each case. 13. Contribute to specific projects, which will bring about an improvement in the provision of health care services within the Trust, in collaboration with operational managers and their teams. 14. The development of processes for embedding performance improvement initiatives and establish mechanisms to ensure the delivery and performance monitoring and reporting of improvements. 15. Supporting a joined-up approach and common focus between Contracts, Finance, Performance, Operations and Quality & Risk. Performance Management 1. Leading the Directorate management teams in the development of business information and intelligence, including the collation, analysis and co-ordination of information relating to the activity, performance and data quality of services 2. Validate data and ensure that it is consistent with financial information and chargeable activity. Demonstrate this to stakeholders & suppliers across the full scope of each contract. 3. Analyse data to ensure the consistency and integrity of Trust reporting and identify, understand and articulate the reasons for any fluctuations. 4. Liaise between stakeholders & suppliers to improve data, data flows and processes. Respond to activity and finance based queries to ensure validity and raise issues of poor and missing data provision. 5. Liaise with Informatics to ensure there is a shared understanding of data rules 6. Promote a data-driven service improvement culture, leading by example and continually encouraging all members of the Division to identify improvements to safety, quality and efficiency of the provision of patient care. 7. Support the development of the Divisional strategy in line with existing contractual arrangements and new contracts. Ensure operational objectives are clear, that they balance quality, safety and efficiency, that robust delivery plans are in place and that performance is proactively measured and supportively managed. 8. Design bespoke spreadsheets and database models to manage activity that does not fall under the National Tariff. 9. Utilise a range of software to present information in a format suited to the end user, e.g. graphs, written reports, scenario modelling. 10. Assist in the development of systems to improve the overall efficiency of the Contracts Team, particularly in the use of computer software to automate tasks. 11. Ensure that all actions are undertaken in accordance with information Governance protocols. 12. Produce monthly internal reports to Trust / Divisional / Operational / Contractual Boards in accordance with strict deadlines. 13. Interpret and distribute complex, sensitive information to Commissioners, Providers and Trust Managers. 14. Identify activity, financial and performance trends, and areas of notable performance to present to suppliers and Trust Managers. Raising performance issues with suppliers and operational colleagues to rectify performance. 15. Meet tight deadlines to ensure timely distribution of contract and performance monitoring and the production of Commissioner and Provider Contracts. 16. Collate monthly statistics from Services for onward distribution. Person Specification Experience Essential Business support and advisory skills for finance, non-finance managers Ability to assimilate and interpret highly complex and ambiguous information across a wide range of data Experience in producing information reports for senior level audiences Proven ability and confidence to work with, numbers, formulas, percentages, variances, trends and graphs. Proven experience of validating figures on complex reports Experience with managing contracts. Desirable Wider NHS Experience such as working in an Acute Trust, Commissioner and other provider organisations Reviewing, challenging, understanding and implementing new Government and NHS guidance / commissioning Highly developed specialist knowledge and expertise of NHS activity and income Information Evidence of detailed specialist knowledge of Acute Hospital data and Processing Experience of applying Payment by Results regulations from NHSE SQL-Server query writing Contract writing using NHSE templates Responding to competitive tenders Contract drafting within the NHS. Knowledge and skills Essential Big data experience including analysis and manipulation is essential High degree of competency with Excel Able to interpret data to identify the impact on income and strategic plans Attention to detail and reconciliations between data sources Able to dissect issues and identify root causes and provide effective solutions A high level of technical and accounting skills will be required on a consistent basis. Communication and problem solving skills are required to a high level both orally and in writing. This is particularly relevant to being the contract negotiator to get the Trust and other party to agree on a process or a price or a KPI or specification and include the ability to communicate concepts to specialist and non-specialist staff Lateral thinking and the ability to use communication skills to seek the win/win for smooth contract operation A high level of organisational and prioritisation skills are required in successfully completing multiple ad hoc assignments alongside the business as usual An ability to switch between tasks of different nature during the working day. This role will be managing several objectives at the same time whilst responding to commissioner needs promptly as they arise Responsible for the teaching and delivery of core training on a range of subjects or specialist training Proven mathematical reasoning skills Experience in options appraisal and cost benefits analysis Commercial and Risk assessment. Desirable Data warehouse tools and SQL Knowledge of NHS Payment by Results definitions, application and process Understanding of the commissioning process and NHS key performance indicators Project Management skills Knowledge of HRG grouping, OPCS procedure codes, diagnosis codes and how these impact payments SQL database and query Writing Negotiation Personal Qualities Essential Highly numerate and able to work accurately on complex work areas Ability to achieve tight deadlines Capacity to make informed decisions Good negotiation skills Problem solving ability Ability to motivate staff Excellent team worker Self-motivated Ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities Willingness to participate in personal development Confidence to contribute in meetings with more than 10 attendees, both internal and external Ability to read, interpret and implement national policy (including data set change notices) which can impact beyond own area of activity Ability to write and update operational instructions for the department Ability to comment on highly complex information reports Desirable Negotiation of larger contracts with complex and mixed services Broker win/win solutions Working with and managing commissioner or government body relationships Presentation skills to a wide audience Qualifications Essential Degree plus Post Graduate Diploma specialist training, experience, short courses. Specialist training to Masters or equivalent level. Desirable Experience at CCAB level Person Specification Experience Essential Business support and advisory skills for finance, non-finance managers Ability to assimilate and interpret highly complex and ambiguous information across a wide range of data Experience in producing information reports for senior level audiences Proven ability and confidence to work with, numbers, formulas, percentages, variances, trends and graphs. Proven experience of validating figures on complex reports Experience with managing contracts. Desirable Wider NHS Experience such as working in an Acute Trust, Commissioner and other provider organisations Reviewing, challenging, understanding and implementing new Government and NHS guidance / commissioning Highly developed specialist knowledge and expertise of NHS activity and income Information Evidence of detailed specialist knowledge of Acute Hospital data and Processing Experience of applying Payment by Results regulations from NHSE SQL-Server query writing Contract writing using NHSE templates Responding to competitive tenders Contract drafting within the NHS. Knowledge and skills Essential Big data experience including analysis and manipulation is essential High degree of competency with Excel Able to interpret data to identify the impact on income and strategic plans Attention to detail and reconciliations between data sources Able to dissect issues and identify root causes and provide effective solutions A high level of technical and accounting skills will be required on a consistent basis. Communication and problem solving skills are required to a high level both orally and in writing. This is particularly relevant to being the contract negotiator to get the Trust and other party to agree on a process or a price or a KPI or specification and include the ability to communicate concepts to specialist and non-specialist staff Lateral thinking and the ability to use communication skills to seek the win/win for smooth contract operation A high level of organisational and prioritisation skills are required in successfully completing multiple ad hoc assignments alongside the business as usual An ability to switch between tasks of different nature during the working day. This role will be managing several objectives at the same time whilst responding to commissioner needs promptly as they arise Responsible for the teaching and delivery of core training on a range of subjects or specialist training Proven mathematical reasoning skills Experience in options appraisal and cost benefits analysis Commercial and Risk assessment. Desirable Data warehouse tools and SQL Knowledge of NHS Payment by Results definitions, application and process Understanding of the commissioning process and NHS key performance indicators Project Management skills Knowledge of HRG grouping, OPCS procedure codes, diagnosis codes and how these impact payments SQL database and query Writing Negotiation Personal Qualities Essential Highly numerate and able to work accurately on complex work areas Ability to achieve tight deadlines Capacity to make informed decisions Good negotiation skills Problem solving ability Ability to motivate staff Excellent team worker Self-motivated Ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities Willingness to participate in personal development Confidence to contribute in meetings with more than 10 attendees, both internal and external Ability to read, interpret and implement national policy (including data set change notices) which can impact beyond own area of activity Ability to write and update operational instructions for the department Ability to comment on highly complex information reports Desirable Negotiation of larger contracts with complex and mixed services Broker win/win solutions Working with and managing commissioner or government body relationships Presentation skills to a wide audience Qualifications Essential Degree plus Post Graduate Diploma specialist training, experience, short courses. Specialist training to Masters or equivalent level. Desirable Experience at CCAB level 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 details Employer name Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Address Charles Hastings Way Worcester Worcestershire WR5 1DD Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)