The South West Direct Commissioning Team are looking to appoint a highly motivated Planning and Contracts Lead on a fixed term or NHS secondment basis initially to 31st October 2026 The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Commissioning, Pharmacy, Business Intelligence, and Transformation, to ensure that the services NHS England commissions from providers are high quality, resilient, compliant with NHS England service specifications and deliver in line with financial and operational performance requirements. The successful candidate will also work closely with our healthcare system partners to ensure aligned commissioning wherever possible. The postholder would be the finance lead for a portfolio of provider contracts across all areas of direct commissioning. In addition, the post holder will provide senior contract and performance support to programmes of work that are in place to support the integration of direct commissioning into local health care systems. The role would suit proactive team-players who are able to work both at detail level as well as strategically. Key aspects of this role will be:
* Financial and contract planning, advice and reporting on direct commissioning budgets.
* Contract negotiation with providers, ensuring that the negotiating strategy is aligned with the regional and local system approach where appropriate.
* In‑year contract management.
* Support the development, implementation and reporting of Improving Value schemes and programmes using benchmarking information and agreeing how these will be delivered.
* Supporting the completion of a range of regional monthly / quarterly /annual returns to the national team.
* Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
* Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
* Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
* Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
* Delivering value for money
Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.
If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process. Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in‑person. Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
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