Job overview
Are you an experienced senior contract leader with a strong track record in complex FM environments and gold-standard PFI expertise, ready to step into a rare strategic leadership role within a major acute Trust?
This pivotal role sits at the heart of one of the South West’s leading acute Trusts. As Head of Contract Management (Estates), the role provides strategic leadership and commercial oversight across a high-value estates contract portfolio, including our wholly owned subsidiary (GMS), the PFI arrangement with Gloucestershire Health Partnership (GHP), SABA car parking, and Sovereign Housing.
A key focus is driving best value, strengthening performance management, and leading forward-looking preparation for PFI expiry, positioning the Trust for long-term success.
We are seeking a senior contract professional with proven experience managing PFI or equivalent complex, long-term FM contracts within an NHS acute setting. The role requires expertise in developing and operating an Intelligent Client Function (ICF), strong financial acumen, advanced negotiation skills, and the ability to interpret complex legal and commercial documentation. A strong commitment to NISTA/GCF standards is essential, alongside a proven track record in expiry planning, benchmarking, and delivering value for money. This influential leadership role requires the ability to build strong supplier relationships while providing robust challenge, assurance at Executive and Board level.
Main duties of the job
- Develop and lead a best-in-class Intelligent Client Function (ICF) in full alignment with NISTA PFI Contract Management Guidance and Government Commercial Function (GCF) Expert standards.
- Provide expert commercial leadership across gold-tier contracts, ensuring contractual compliance, KPI delivery, service credits, benchmarking and value-for-money.
- Lead structured PFI expiry planning, asset condition assurance, hand back and transition readiness to secure service continuity and best value for future models.
- Chair the Contract Management Group, negotiate variations, manage financial forecasting and eliminate contract leakage through robust systems and digital tools.
- Deliver strategic commercial advice to the Trust Board and Executive Team on risk, performance and efficiency.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information on the main responsibilities of this role.
Person specification
Additional Qualities
Essential
- Willing to work in other areas of the Trust or Trust-wide as and when required to do so
- Ability to cope with conflict and conflicting demands.
- Able to communicate professionally with colleagues at all levels (both internally and externally)
- Ability to work as part of a team and support colleagues
Qualifications/ Education
Essential
- Degree or equivalent knowledge and experience
- In-depth managerial, financial and contracting knowledge
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- NISTA Private Finance Initiative Training Programme including Expiry
- Government Commercial Function Contract Management Capability Programme – Expert Level (or equivalent demonstrable gold-tier experience
Desirable
- Professional membership of IWFM or equivalent estates/FM institution
Experience, Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Significant senior experience of managing gold-tier estates and facilities contracts in an acute healthcare environment
- Direct experience managing PFI contracts (or equivalent complex long-term FM contracts) in an NHS setting
- Proven track record of developing and operating an Intelligent Client Function (ICF)
- Demonstrable success in PFI expiry planning, benchmarking, market testing and value-for-money delivery
- Highly developed leadership, negotiation, communication and influencing skills at Executive/Board level
- Advanced ability to interpret complex legal, commercial and financial data and present findings concisely to non-specialist audiences
- Experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams and external suppliers in a matrix environment
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Contract Management (Estates), Band 8b with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Sitewide (Beacon House, Gloucester Royal Hospital). It is listed as a Band 8 Estates and facilities role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 (pa, pro rata if part-time). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Aug 2026.
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