Contracts Manager - Band 8a

Contracts Manager - Band 8a

The closing date is 31 March 2026.

We are recruiting a Contracts Manager to join our Commercial team within the ICB. The Commercial team sits within the Finance and Commercial Directorate and delivers all aspects of contracting, including information, provider relationships and managing outsourced procurement arrangements. The role will take ownership of one or more areas of contracts, managing direct provider engagement and supporting the commissioning function of the ICB. Working closely with Finance Business Partners, Commissioners and Quality leads, you will deliver contract negotiation and delivery across the ICB.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure contract guidance and frameworks are clearly understood and appropriately applied in your area of responsibility.
• Use complex health data sets, including performance across activity, finance and quality, to inform decision making.
• Analyse qualitative and quantitative data relating to contracting information and metrics.
• Use Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services.
• Explore new contracting models and approaches to support the objectives of commissioners.
• Lead negotiation and agreement of a portfolio of medium to large scale contracts.
• Draft contract documentation for healthcare contracts or other contract forms.
• Establish processes that ensure commissioning decisions are made appropriately and reflected within agreed contracts, often involving sensitive discussions with contractors.
• Plan and organise the required outcomes and approaches to contract negotiations, agreement and monitoring.

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for full details regarding the duties and responsibilities of the role.

About us

Mid and South Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for planning and delivering local health and care services across Mid and South Essex. As part of changes to the NHS commissioning landscape, the ICB will transition to the new Essex ICB on 1 April 2026. The role will be appointed within the Essex ICB structure, working across the county to improve the health of local people. The organisation's headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model that includes working across Essex and from home. Offices are located in Brentwood, Harlow, Colchester and Chelmsford.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and all applicants will be treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.

Note: the organisation does not hold a sponsorship licence.

Key duties and responsibilities

Policy and service development

• Implement policy and or service developments related to contracting, drawing on requirements from NHS strategies, including the ICB strategy and the 10 Year Health Plan.
• Ensure compliance with relevant ICB policies.
• Use research and innovation to inform service improvements or performance management.
• Ensure contract guidance and frameworks are clearly understood and appropriately applied in your area of responsibility.

Strategy and analysis

• Analyse complex data sets to inform decision making.
• Turn analysis into useful insights for delivery.
• Present complex data, information and insights through clear written and verbal briefings.
• Use Population Health Management methodologies and tools to improve patient outcomes.
• Explore new contracting models and approaches.

Planning and organisation

• Lead negotiation and agreement of medium to large scale contracts.
• Draft contract documentation for healthcare contracts.
• Establish commissioning decision processes and conduct sensitive negotiations.
• Plan and organise outcomes and approaches to contract negotiations, agreement and monitoring.
• Develop and deliver project plans with governance, risk management, escalations and reporting.
• Maintain accurate contract records through the Atamis System.
• Manage competing priorities and resources.
• Ensure accurate reporting and records management.

Communications and partnerships

• Collaborate, model inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership.
• Take into account a broad range of perspectives to inform decision making.
• Present information and training to large groups.
• Build trust based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities.
• Engage effectively with patients and the public.
• Work in multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects that improve outcomes and reduce inequalities.

Financial and resource management

• Support procurement of relevant services.
• Work closely with finance partners on oversight of business and financial plans.

Team management and capability building

• Support staff through ICB transition.
• Facilitate transition of relevant functions to new portfolios.
• Collaborate with system partners for transitional arrangements.
• Maintain focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition.
• Support Information Asset Management for the team.

Other

• Use initiative and work independently to deliver on role requirements.
• Primary desk based work requiring visual display units, concentration and participation in meetings.
• Use software required to develop reports, including Microsoft suite.

Key relationships

• ICB senior leadership.
• Information Governance team.
• Local Authority partners.
• NHS providers.
• NHSEI regional partners.
• Other system partners, such as VCFSE.

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level (relevant focus) or equivalent managerial experience.
• Evidence of sustained commitment to continuing professional development across the field of contracting.

Partnerships & Communities

• Experience working across organisational boundaries in the development and delivery of projects.
• Ability to represent the organisation credibly and positively in internal and external meetings.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills.

People & Culture

• Experience in leading and motivating teams, recognising and promoting talent.
• Evidence of compassionate leadership and promotion of diversity, inclusion and equality.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and achieving positive outcomes for staff and service users.
• Good understanding of current health and social care national aims and policy.
• Experience using analytical and problem solving skills to address complex problems.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear communications for a range of audiences.

Personal Attributes and Values

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Self motivated, confident and positive attitude, able to adapt to complex and constantly changing environments.

Governance and Assurance

• Experience delivering projects that require collective decision making.
• Good understanding of effective corporate governance and decision making routes within the ICB.

Experience

• Experience working at a senior level in a relevant healthcare environment (NHS or other).
• Experience leading and managing projects in relevant commissioning functions as outlined in the ICB model blueprint.
• Experience managing sensitive situations with staff and stakeholders.