Contract Development Lead

Job overview

The Contract Development Lead will drive the design and implementation of innovative contractual arrangements across the ICB, including outcome-based and risk-sharing models that support transformation and improved patient outcomes.

The postholder will lead on developing more effective contracting approaches, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to emerging system needs, recognising strategic developments of place, neighbourhoods and integrated health organisations. Working collaboratively across stakeholders in the ICB, the post holder will contribute to strategic and operational planning, ensuring appropriate contract arrangements and payment mechanisms are in place linked to outcomes and quality.

The postholder will also oversee market management and development, working with providers to shape a sustainable, high quality market capable of meeting future demand and supporting integrated care objectives.

Main duties of the job

The Contract Development Lead plays an important leadership role within the Integrated Care Board (ICB), supporting the Head of Contracts, Associate Directors, and wider management team in delivering the organisation’s strategic and operational priorities. This is a senior post with responsibility for managing defined programmes or service areas, requiring strong operational delivery skills, long term planning, effective partnership working, and the ability to contribute to system improvement. The purpose includes:

• To lead and manage the delivery of services or programmes within a defined portfolio, ensuring that objectives and performance standards are achieved and long-term plans are developed.
• To support the Head of Contracts and Associate Directors in implementing ICB and system strategies that improve quality, outcomes, and efficiency.
• To provide visible and supportive leadership, promoting collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement across teams and partners.
• To contribute to system integration and service transformation through effective planning, delivery, and partnership working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Lead provides operational and managerial leadership across a defined portfolio, ensuring that priorities are delivered effectively and in line with organisational and system objectives. Working closely with the Head of Service and Associate Director, the postholder will translate strategic ambitions into achievable delivery plans and measurable outcomes.

A core aspect of the role is to maintain high standards of service delivery and governance, ensuring performance targets are met, risks are managed, and improvement opportunities are realised. The Lead will encourage innovation, empower teams, and ensure that decision-making is informed by data and evidence.

Through effective leadership, collaboration, and a strong focus on outcomes, the Lead contributes to the ICB’s vision of integrated, high-quality, and sustainable care for the local population.

Specific responsibilities

• Lead the development of new contractual frameworks, including outcome-based and risk sharing models. Ensuring contracts are enabling the ICB strategic objectives of total quality management and utilisation management.
• Lead the design of innovative contracting models (e.g., outcomes‑based contracts, capitated/population‑based budgets, gain/risk‑share, bundled payments, alliance contracting) aligned to ICB priorities (quality, access, inequalities, and financial sustainability).
• Translate population health and pathway redesign goals into contractable outcomes, incentives, and payment rules. Building payment mechanisms that balance fixed, variable, and incentive components (e.g., blended payment, outcome incentives, CQUIN-style levers where applicable).
• Define the theory of change and value proposition for each model, including expected benefits, dependencies, and measurable success criteria
• Drive innovation in contracting to support transformation, including development and delegation arrangements to neighbourhoods, places and integrated care delivery, aligning incentives across care settings and reducing perverse incentives.
• Assess market capacity and capability to meet current and future service needs, building and maintaining effective relationships with providers, to shape a sustainable, high-quality market.
• Support market entry and diversification to encourage innovation and maximise effective use of all NHS resources.
• Oversee implementation of new contractual arrangements across providers, working closely with Contract Relationship Leads and Commissioners to monitor compliance and performance against agreed outcomes and KPIs.
• Provide expert advice on contractual and market development issues, contributing to strategic planning and policy development.