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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Commissioning team as Senior Commissioning Manager. This is a high profile role within the Trust, which involves the financial and performance management of a portfolio of contracts.
As a core member of the Commissioning team, this role has the responsibility to lead and manage staff through the development of team and personal objectives and development plans, ensuring the availability of a skilled and motivated team.
The appointee will work with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders and as such, the ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively to resolve emergent contractual issues are essential.
If you feel that you meet the essential criteria for this role, we would like to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Support the Deputy Director of Commissioning in securing legally binding contracts for NHS and non-NHS services and manage the contract portfolio of the wider Commissioning team.
A core member of the Commissioning team with the responsibility to lead and manage the Commissioning team, through the development of team and personal objectives and development plans, ensuring the availability of a skilled and motivated team.
You will ensure effective communication, support and challenge throughout the Commissioning team, providing visible and approachable leadership.
Ensure the continued development and performance of the Commissioning team in supporting clinical service delivery within the Trust.
Manage the contractual disputes process with Commissioners and ensure liaison with the appropriate Trust personnel, escalating any issues as appropriate to the Deputy Director of Commissioning.
The role will respond to the needs of clinical services and external stakeholders as and when required, and will maintain and develop effective relationships with key external bodies, including ICS / ICBs, NHSE and DH.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 8th July 2026.
Interviews are due to be held on 4th and 5th August 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal presentation skills
- Excellent MS Office skills
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Ability to negotiate effectively and maintain robust professional relationships
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Excellent organisational and planning skills
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage uncertainty and risk
- Drive, determination, independence and autonomous
- Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills required to communicate difficult or controversial issues relating to services, finance and organisations
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary
- Prioritisation skills with ability to manage multiple projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Expert knowledge of financial rules and regulations applicable to NHS and non-NHS organisations.
- Knowledge of legal and contractual requirements placed on a wide range of clinicians and managers
- Demonstrates an understanding of the interface between contracts and financial management.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the national changes in the commissioning landscape.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience in the health service
- Experience of working in a commissioning or financial planning role
- Experience of working in a financial management role
- Experience of negotiating in a resource constrained environment
- Experience of delivering sound commissioning agreements
- Experience of managing staff
- Experience in influencing and persuading internal and external stakeholders to gain consensus or to manage divergent views.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a commissioning organisation
- Experience in working in a provider organisation
- Previous NHS experience
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level, or professional equivalent, or equivalent experience in a contracting or commissioning role.
- Professional accountancy qualification or professional equivalent
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
- To act in a professional manner at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct.
- Capable of developing liaisons with other practice areas/academic institutions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Commissioning Manager with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 p.a. pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 08 Jul 2026.
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