Lead Contract Manager
1 day ago
Norwich
Job summaryPriority will be given to internal staff.NS ICB plans and funds health and care services for people across Norfolk and Suffolk. We manage an annual budget of 4.9 billion to commission services which are safe, high quality and accessible for the 1.7 million people who live here. Commissioning means planning and funding health services based on the needs of local communities.This role will be within the team with responsibility for contractual compliance and management of contracts held by the ICB. The role will provide senior leadership to the group of staff supporting an allocated portfolio of provider contracts, with accountability for building capability, setting clear priorities, managing performance and wellbeing, and ensuring effective delivery across the portfolio. The post holder will also lead complex contract negotiations, provider performance oversight, delivery against national and local standards and priorities, value for money, risk management and support to commissioners with pathway transformation.The successful candidate will also be responsible for leading and contributing to, agreed areas of focus for the development and continuous improvement of the wider directorate, alongside the post holders core portfolio responsibilities.This will be a hybrid role, with some requirements for office working.Main duties of the job Lead, motivate and coordinate the staff supporting the allocated contract portfolio to deliver the portfolios priorities. Lead on complex provider contracts within the allocated portfolio. Lead the implementation of contracting requirements across the allocated provider portfolio. Lead integrated oversight of contracts within the allocated provider portfolio. Identify and manage contractual risks across the allocated provider portfolio. Use contractual levers and provider relationships to deliver better outcomes and value across the allocated portfolio. Lead complex and, where necessary, contentious contractual negotiations. Coordinate multi-ICB contracts via coordinating commissioner protocols Lead and contribute to, agreed areas of focus for the development and continuous improvement of the wider directorate.About usWe manage an annual budget of 4.9 billion to commission safe, high quality and accessible health services for 1.7million people living in Norfolk and Suffolk.We work with hospitals, GP practices, dentists, pharmacies, community, mental health and ambulance services, alongside local councils and voluntary organisations, to improve care. We involve local communities in shaping decisions and use their insights to improve services. As a statutory NHS organisation, we are accountable to NHS England and the UK Government.Our role is to ensure services meet current and future needs by setting local NHS strategy, allocating funding, maintaining quality and safety standards, improving access, reducing health inequalities and enabling joined up care.Norfolk and Suffolk include rural, coastal and deprived communities, with an older than average population. Around half of residents live in rural or coastal areas, where access can be harder, and about 219,000 people live in the most deprived areas, where early deaths are significantly higher. These factors shape our planning and focus on reducing inequalities.Our vision is for people to live longer, healthier lives with access to safe, joined up, patient centred care. We prioritise improving healthy life expectancy, reducing inequalities and ensuring consistent access to high quality services.We work across five local Places and partner with NHS providers, councils, the VCFSE sector and communities to deliver locally responsive care.DetailsDate posted19 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary 66,582 to 77,368 a year ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference numberD0003-ICB044Job locationsNorfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care BoardCounty HallMartineau LaneNorwichNorfolkNR1 2DHUnited KingdomNorfolk and Suffolk ICBEndeavour HouseRussell RoadIPSWICHIP1 2BXUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThis job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager. This job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation. This will be done in line with the Job evaluation Handbook guidelines. Job description Job responsibilitiesThis job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager. This job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation. This will be done in line with the Job evaluation Handbook guidelines.Person Specification Autonomy Freedom to Act EssentialAbility to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescalesInterpreting national policy for implementationMust be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor/ Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies. Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescalesExperience of identifying and interpreting National policy. Experience of researching best practice (globally, private and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation) Financial and Physical Resources EssentialPreviously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes Skills EssentialDeveloped communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level.Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution.Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyEvidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.Demonstrable experience of providing visible and effective leadership to a team, setting direction and priorities, allocating work and resources, managing capacity and performance, supporting staff wellbeing, developing capability and succession, and leading people through organisational change. Able to motivate and coach individuals, address difficult performance or conduct issues fairly and promptly, and create an inclusive, supportive and accountable team culture.Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.DesirableComprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects Qualifications EssentialEducated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.DesirableMember of relevant professional body. Experience EssentialExtensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalentEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional developmentMust have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisationsExtensive experience of complex NHS contracting and provider managementStakeholder/negotiation skillsDesirableFamiliarity with NHS systems (Atamis, Power BI, Oracle). Other EssentialUsed to working in a busy environmentAdaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and changeWilling to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventionsProfessional calm and efficient mannerEffective organizer, influencer and networkerDemonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.Completer/FinisherTeam working skillsSelf-motivatedAbility to move between details and the bigger picture.Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop Equality and Diversity EssentialNeeds to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the area Person Specification Autonomy Freedom to Act EssentialAbility to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescalesInterpreting national policy for implementationMust be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor/ Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies. Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescalesExperience of identifying and interpreting National policy. Experience of researching best practice (globally, private and public sector), interpreting its relevance and processes/ practices which could be implemented successfully to achieve system reform (advising on policy implementation) Financial and Physical Resources EssentialPreviously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes Skills EssentialDeveloped communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level.Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and making decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution.Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordinglyEvidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.Demonstrable experience of providing visible and effective leadership to a team, setting direction and priorities, allocating work and resources, managing capacity and performance, supporting staff wellbeing, developing capability and succession, and leading people through organisational change. Able to motivate and coach individuals, address difficult performance or conduct issues fairly and promptly, and create an inclusive, supportive and accountable team culture.Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.DesirableComprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects Qualifications EssentialEducated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.DesirableMember of relevant professional body. Experience EssentialExtensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalentEvidence of post qualifying and continuing professional developmentMust have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisationsExtensive experience of complex NHS contracting and provider managementStakeholder/negotiation skillsDesirableFamiliarity with NHS systems (Atamis, Power BI, Oracle). Other EssentialUsed to working in a busy environmentAdaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and changeWilling to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventionsProfessional calm and efficient mannerEffective organizer, influencer and networkerDemonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.Completer/FinisherTeam working skillsSelf-motivatedAbility to move between details and the bigger picture.Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values.Embrace change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop Equality and Diversity EssentialNeeds to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems in the areaDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 detailsEmployer nameNorfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care BoardAddressNorfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care BoardCounty HallMartineau LaneNorwichNorfolkNR1 2DHUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameNorfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care BoardAddressNorfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care BoardCounty HallMartineau LaneNorwichNorfolkNR1 2DHUnited KingdomEmployer's website