Senior Commissioning and Contracts Manager

Overview

In this senior role you will lead commissioning and contract management for complex care services across South London, working with healthcare partners to ensure high-quality, outcomes‑driven care. You’ll oversee governance, performance, and value for money while shaping service redesign and new care pathways. You will influence across borough boundaries and across NHS, local authorities and providers, contributing to transformation within the Complex Care Programme. This is a collaborative, influence‑oriented position that supports cross‑organisational improvement.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working
• flexible working
• Band 8b salary (£75,328–£86,114)
• supportive, developmental culture
• on-site base Lewisham with good transport links

Responsibilities

• Provide senior commissioning and contract management leadership across SLP Provider Collaboratives and Complex Care.
• Lead development, negotiation, implementation, variation and management of complex contracts.
• Ensure contracts, service specifications, quality requirements and KPIs reflect priorities and outcomes.
• Lead provider performance management using quality, safety, activity, finance and outcomes data for assurance.
• Identify contractual and performance risks with escalation and improvement action.
• Lead commissioning, procurement, service redesign and mobilisation of new services and pathways.
• Develop commissioning strategies and support implementation of new models of care.
• Collaborate with NHS Trusts, ICBs, local authorities, providers and system partners.
• Provide reports and assurance to senior governance forums.
• Promote value for money, quality, equality, patient safety and outcomes.
• Provide leadership and development to the Commissioning & Contracts team.
• Deputise for the Head of Commissioning & Contracts as required.

Key requirements

• Substantial experience of commissioning and/or contract management within the NHS or similarly complex environment.
• Experience in developing, negotiating, implementing, varying and managing complex contracts.
• Experience in provider performance management using quality, safety, activity, finance and outcomes information.
• Experience in identifying and managing contractual or performance risks, including escalation and remediation actions.
• Experience in service redesign, procurement and mobilisation of services or pathways.
• Experience in cross‑organisational collaboration with senior stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of the commissioning and contract management lifecycle and NHS contracts.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and translate into action.

• collaborative leadership
• strong relationship building across complex systems
• sound judgement
• NHS contractual arrangements
• contract management lifecycle
• provider performance management

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