Contract jobs in United Kingdom

At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined‑up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and offer care and support in people's own homes and other locations across the county. Our mission is to enable people to live the best life they can, and our vision is to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking “what matters to you”. We are passionate about building healthy, high‑quality teams.

As a Contracts Manager, you will work as part of a dynamic team responsible for effective procurement and contract management, in accordance with national and local strategies, policies and procedures, for the Trust contract portfolio including Mental Health and Community Services.

The role supports the Trust in driving transformation as well as securing value for money in planning and service delivery and improvement. It is designed to build a combination of contract management expertise and technical skills.

• Support the Senior Contracts Manager(s) and team.
• Effectively manage a portfolio of contracts defined upon appointment.
• Develop effective working relationships between internal functional support and business partnering teams and colleagues.
• Ensure performance and contract management of agreements are robust and cohesive.
• Provide professional expertise to business processes for direct commissioning. Define current processes, facilitate discussions and advise colleagues on best practice.
• Contribute to the development of Trust‑wide service specifications (clinical and non‑clinical) and redesign of care pathways to ensure services commissioned provide quality and value for money.
• Work with contract leads/budget holders to ensure value for money and efficiency opportunities are managed through contract management.
• Promote relationships with key clinical and non‑clinical stakeholders.
• Assist in the administration of the contract management process, developing and implementing robust controls for all contracting matters.
• Update and manage the contract tracker, ensuring relevant documentation is agreed, accessible, up to date and in line with NHS contracting rules and regulations.
• Support the management of all contract documentation and work with senior managers to support the Executive approval process (including contract variations).
• Lead negotiations for risk‑appropriate contracts and negotiate variations to existing contracts when necessary.
• Represent the organisation at contract performance review meetings and establish effective contract monitoring processes.
• Work with colleagues to resolve contract disputes promptly, including remedial action plans.
• Undertake contracting projects and tasks on an ad‑hoc basis and liaise with costing and planning colleagues regarding service development proposals and new initiatives.
• Develop and maintain tools to report on contract status, queries, information requests, performance notices and remedial action plan resolutions.
• Maintain expert knowledge of NHS Standard Contracts and apply national contract requirements as they emerge, including annual updates.
• Liaise with the costing team to ensure queries are responded to promptly.
• Ensure the Trust Standing Financial Instructions are interpreted and followed through in the purchasing process.
• Provide contract management advice to budget holders on purchasing procedures, negotiation, extensions or tendering options, and contract law.
• Maintain the NHSE Atamis contract database in line with national procurement legislation compliance.
• Support the active management of contracts to ensure contract compliance, including claims management.
• Maintain bespoke supporting contract management databases for accurate recording of supplier performance and compliance.
• Support escalation and intervention, alerting the Senior Contracts Manager to issues of concern and making recommendations for actions.
• Work with budget holders, operational finance colleagues and the Costing Team to identify value for money and efficiency opportunities.
• Apply purchasing systems appropriately to improve controls and reduce risk, ensuring only safe and appropriate products are used and suppliers are appointed.
• Lead regular periodic audits of contracts and purchasing, using formal methods to plan, collate and interpret results for decision‑making and swift action.
• Participate in the development of contracting tools, models and processes and keep up‑to‑date with innovations and trends.
• Manage ad‑hoc, unplanned projects and support budget holders confidently.
• Plan for contract renewals/retendering of category spend, analysing complex facts and figures to compare options.
• Support development of clinical and non‑clinical service specifications.
• Support the Trust tendering process.
• Delegate work to Procurement Share Service colleagues where appropriate.
• Manage the non‑EU overseas visitors financial and charging process, linking with Government Agencies.
• Support new supplier due diligence process and conduct audits if required.
• Contribute to performance improvement and lead identified improvement areas.
• Coordinate and participate in relevant working groups, providing project advice and support.
• Investigate causes of variance from plan and contribute to implementation of solutions.
• Devise and provide improvements to current management information, analytics, reporting and procedural suggestions.

• Free car parking at many sites.
• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service.
• Training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship schemes up to Level 7 qualification.
• Multi‑professional preceptorship programme for newly qualified staff.
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay for unsocial hours.
• Flexible, family‑friendly and agile working opportunities.
• Recognition and long‑service awards.
• Fast‑track physiotherapy.
• Wellbeing line.
• Access to discounts and salary‑sacrifice schemes: Cycle‑to‑Work, car scheme, travel, leisure and retail discounts.

Applicants are advised to apply early. If a large number of applications are received, the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.

For more information please see the attached “Additional Information for Applicants” document.