NHS Kent & Medway
Associate Director of Contracting
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Role Overview
This is a senior leadership role, responsible for supporting and deputising for the Director and Deputy Director of Contracting in overseeing a complex contract portfolio valued at approximately £4bn. Working closely with colleagues across the Directorate and system, you'll provide strategic, operational and financial leadership to ensure that contractual arrangements deliver value for money and optimal outcomes for patients.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of a robust contract management operating model, ensuring all clinical services are underpinned by clear, effective and compliant contractual frameworks.
- Enable high-quality commissioning decision-making through contract monitoring, financial insight and risk management arrangements.
- Demonstrate strong knowledge on the NHS payment scheme and support contract finance, including forecasting, reporting and strategic analysis.
- Influence commissioning strategies, advise on contracting models, and support system-wide transformation through innovative financial and contractual approaches.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with ICB teams, NHS Trusts, independent sector providers and system partners.
- Lead complex negotiations, represent the contracting function at senior forums, and resolve high-value or contentious contractual issues.
- Lead and develop the contracting and contract finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, professionalism and innovation.
- Support the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) and Director of Contracting in the organisational and professional development of the wider finance function.
- Drive efficiencies through digital transformation, automation and enhanced use of business intelligence.
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Requirements
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy.
- Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and sound judgement in managing a broad and challenging portfolio within a fast-paced and evolving healthcare environment.
Additional Information
You'll work with the Deputy Director of Contracting to develop the new operating model for contract management for the ICB. This will require both a contracting and contract finance skill set including high levels of energy, versatility, and resilience to manage a complex and challenging portfolio of work.
Working closely with the AD of Contract finance to ensure contract forecasting and reporting capabilities to support the ICBs financial position.
Company Culture
We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.
- Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions.
- That’s why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.
- We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation.
- We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.
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We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.
We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. In order to reflect the diversity of our population, we positively encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Contact
For further details / informal visits contact:
- Name: Kristen Cave
- Job title: Deputy Director of Contracting
- Email address: kristen.cave@nhs.net
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