Job summary
Thames Valley Integrated Care Board is looking for a Head of Contract Analytics to lead the ICB's approach to evidence-based contracting and commercial intelligence across the Thames Valley system.

This is a senior, system-wide leadership role sitting within the Connected Care Analytics function -- working across commissioning, finance, strategy and provider organisations to shape how we understand contract performance, system costs and value for money across a £5.6 billion commissioning budget.

You'll champion a culture of transparent, rigorous contract analytics -- developing the methodologies, frameworks and tools that enable the ICB and its partners to make better commercial decisions, optimise contracts and drive improved outcomes for 2.5 million people across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

You'll be joining the ICB at a genuinely exciting moment -- helping to shape the future of commissioning in the NHS, and building the analytical foundations that will underpin better decisions for our population. You'll work alongside talented colleagues in analytics, digital, strategy and finance, with real scope to influence how the system works.

As part of the Connected Care Analytics function, you'll have access to one of the most sophisticated integrated health data ecosystems in the country -- a programme that has been growing and evolving since 2016 and is a genuine asset for Thames Valley and its partners.

Location: One of Thames Valley ICB's offices

Main duties of the job

• Leading the development and embedding of best-practice contract analytics approaches, including impact modelling, benchmarking, financial risk assessment and value-for-money frameworks.
• Providing the ICB's senior leadership with robust commercial and financial modelling to underpin contract negotiations, investment decisions and commissioning strategy.
• Working closely with Strategy, Finance, Performance and Commercial teams to ensure contracting processes are evidence-led and aligned with system priorities.
• Building and managing a multi-disciplinary contracts analytics team within a matrix environment, including line management, capability development and recruitment.
• Coaching and mentoring contract analysts and analytical teams across the ICS to embed the frameworks and methodologies you develop.
• Collaborating with digital and data teams to develop tools that enhance contract monitoring, transparency and oversight across the system.
• Constructively challenging senior stakeholders -- including Executives and Directors.
• Overseeing contract monitoring, risk escalation and performance evaluation processes across NHS, local authority and partner organisations.
• Contributing to population segmentation and risk stratification approaches where relevant to contract design and commissioning.
• Supporting the Associate Director of Analytics in shaping the ICB's long-term analytics vision and providing leadership cover for the Head of Analytics when needed.

About us
We value and promote diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all. We believe that the best employers are those that reflect the communities they serve. We want to increase the diversity of our NHS leadership and particularly encourage applications from women, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBT communities, younger candidates and from people with lived experience of disability, who we know are all under-represented in these important roles. We are committed to delivering a trustworthy, flexible and responsible staff culture.

At our Organisation, our selection process ensures we recruit candidates with the right skills and values. We monitor AI use in applications and remain alert to misuse that misrepresents abilities. You must declare any AI use when submitting your application.

Job responsibilities
As the Head of Contracts Analytics, you will lead the organisation-wide analytical approach to contract performance, value assessment, commercial modelling and evidence-based contracting across the ICB. You will develop best practice methodologies, toolkits and frameworks that support all entities in understanding contractual impact, true system costs, provider performance, and value for money. Through your team, you will help the ICB identify opportunities to optimise contracts, redesign commissioning approaches, and strengthen commercial decision making based on contracting across the IC practice methodologies, toolkits and frameworks that support all making.-based contracting across the IC-practice methodologies, toolkits and frameworks thatsupport all -making.Working as part of the wider Connected Care Analytics function, this role is integral to delivering integrated digital and analytical solutions that enhance contractual oversight and drive whole system improvement. The Thames Valley ICB requires an experienced and influential leader capable of navigating a complex environment, challenging assumptions, and supporting NHS, local authority, and partner organisationsincluding mental health and social careto adopt evidence led contracting culture and system improvement. The post holder will be recognised as the system champion for robust, accurate and transparent contract analytics.

You'll be an experienced analytical leader with a strong background in contract analytics, commercial intelligence or financial modelling ideally in a complex, multi-organisational environment. You'll have:

• Education to master's degree level or equivalent senior-level experience in a specialist analytical or commercial field.
• Proven expertise in contract analytics, financial modelling, value-for-money assessment or commercial intelligence.
• Highly developed analytical and statistical skills, with the ability to work with complex datasets and translate insight into clear recommendations for senior audiences.
• Experience managing and developing analytical teams, including within matrix or multi-agency environments.
• Strong influencing, negotiation and communication skills able to challenge senior stakeholders constructively and present complex information to executive and Board-level audiences.
• A good understanding of NHS commissioning, the relationship between DHSC, NHS England, ICBs and providers, and the current healthcare policy landscape.
• Experience of budget responsibility and working knowledge of NHS financial processes.
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Experience working in NHS, healthcare or public sector environments is desirable.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to master's degree level (postgraduate studies) or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.

Knowledge, Experience
Essential

• Extensive knowledge of specialist area/s, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training, plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent.
• Highly developed analytical, statistical and financial modelling skills.
• Proven expertise in contract analytics, financial modelling or commercial intelligence.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• An understanding of the background and aims of current healthcare policy, appreciating the implications on engagement.
• A good understanding of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, Integrated Care Systems (including Integrated Care Boards), and individual provider organisations.
• Previous experience of budget responsibility, involvement in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.
• Experience of working with, and building and developing successful professional relationships with, a range of stakeholders (internal and external).
• Experience of managing and motivating a team, including managing work performance of individuals and team.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel etc.) with intermediate keyboard skills.
• Member of relevant professional body.

Skills, Capabilities, Attributes
Essential

• Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to use informed persuasion and influencing skills for board and senior managers of the respective merits of different options, innovation and new market opportunities.
• Negotiation skills in respect of sometimes difficult and very complex and detailed issues.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
• Able to take decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action, and to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
• Ability to carry out procurements for highly detailed, high value contracts that require analysis, comparison and assessment.
• Ability to plan and organise a broad range of complex activities using available information sources, which may require formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances.
• Able to work with external stakeholders and NHS colleagues to develop (strategic) plans on a local and national level e.g. performance improvement and innovation.
• Skills for delivering results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility.
• Self-motivated, able to work on own initiative and prioritise own work effectively and work under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines.
• Teamworking skills, willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Thames Valley ICB
Address: Oxford/Buckinghamshire/Berkshire/Surrey, Oxford, OX4 2PG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.thamesvalley.icb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Programme Director
Tina White
tina.white11@nhs.net

We value and promote diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all. We believe that the best employers are those that reflect the communities they serve. We want to increase the diversity of our NHS leadership and particularly encourage applications from women, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBT communities, younger candidates and from people with lived experience of disability, who we know are all under-represented in these important roles. We are committed to delivering a trustworthy, flexible and responsible staff culture.