Job Title: Senior Contracts Manager
Location: Fulwood, Preston, office based
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37.5
We are always looking for great talent to join our team and help achieve our ambitious goals and growth. We care about our people, and we care about the future of community health and how CHEC can play an innovative part in making this great, with your help.
If you're dynamic, focused have the vision to support our growth and the courage to tell us how we can be even better - come and join us!
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Contracts Manager to join our Risk and Compliance team as we enter the next phase of our continued growth.
We are seeking a forward-thinking and highly organised professional to join us at our Head Office in Fulwood, Preston.
The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the end-to-end management, performance oversight, and compliance of NHS Standard Contracts across the organisation. This role will ensure that all contractual, regulatory, and reporting requirements are delivered to the highest standards.
We are looking for someone who can:
* Act as the organisation’s subject matter expert on NHS Standard Contracts, ensuring compliance across the organisation.
* Lead contract governance processes, including contract reviews, variations, and change control.
* Manage annual contract negotiations with commissioners to secure fair and sustainable terms.
* Oversee preparation and submission of contract documentation, schedules, and reporting requirements.
* Monitor contract performance, KPIs, and quality standards, working with operational, clinical, and data teams.
* Lead contract performance meetings with commissioners and coordinate improvement actions where required.
* Manage in-year contract changes and variations, ensuring appropriate internal review and approvals.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, acting as the primary contractual contact.
* Escalate and manage contractual risks, compliance issues, and performance concerns.
What you’ll bring to the role:
* Strong expertise in NHS Standard Contracts, including schedules, KPIs, reporting, and quality requirements.
* In-depth understanding of NHS commissioning structures (ICBs, NHS England) and regulatory frameworks.
* Proven experience managing contract negotiations, in-year variations, and contractual performance within a healthcare setting.
* Knowledge of healthcare governance, safeguarding, information governance, and data quality standards.
* Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with experience interpreting complex data.
* Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and mitigate contractual risks.
* Experience addressing contract disputes, performance issues, and financial reconciliation.
* Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Planner and collaborative tools
* Experience with NHS reporting systems (e.g., SUS, SLAM, e‑RS, RTT PTL tools)
* Understanding of clinical coding, data flows, and NHS data standards
* Understanding of data validation, information governance, and audit processes
Why work for us?
* 25 days plus bank holidays
* Buy and sell annual leave scheme
* Company Bonus Scheme
* Refer a friend scheme
* Company pension
* Company sick pay scheme
* Life assurance scheme
* Blue light Card- 100’s of discount and cashback options
* Performance review with a training and development plan
* Great team and working environment
* Medicash – health cash plan
* Gym membership discount