This role is critical in ensuring robust contract management, commercial assurance, and compliance across DrPA Secure’s services in secure and regulated healthcare environments.

About Us

DrPA Secure has been operating in secure environments since 2014, providing high-quality healthcare services across the UK. We deliver our services based on our ethos of CARE:

• Compassionate care that is trauma informed and supportive
• Assurance that care is evidence-based and demonstrates high-quality outcomes for our patients
• Respectful of people’s cultural and religious beliefs
• Empowerment – we centre each resident by co-creating holistic care plans that treat individual needs and support long-term wellbeing

Role Purpose

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the end-to-end contractual and commercial management of DRPA Secure’s public sector and supply-chain contracts. This includes prime contracts with NHS England and the Home Office, subcontract arrangements with NHS Trusts, and the management of DRPA Secure’s own subcontractor agreements.

The role exists to ensure contractual compliance, manage change control, and protect commercial value, working closely with Operations to support effective service delivery.

This is an individual contributor role with no line management responsibility and reports into the Operations function.

Key Responsibilities

Client Contract Management (Prime & Subcontract)

• Manage contracts with NHS England, the Home Office, and NHS Trusts throughout their lifecycle
• Support contract mobilisation, delivery, variations, and renewals
• Coordinate contract governance activities, including review meetings, actions, and issue tracking
• Monitor KPIs, SLAs, and contractual obligations, escalating risks where required
• Ensure operational teams understand and meet contractual requirements

Change Control & Commercial Management

• Manage contract variations, scope changes, and amendments
• Ensure changes are documented, approved, and accurately reflected in contracts
• Support margin protection by identifying scope creep or commercial risk
• Assist with pricing mechanisms, indexation, and contractual financial controls

Subcontractor Contract Management

• Draft, issue, and manage subcontractor agreements aligned to upstream contracts
• Ensure appropriate flow-down of contractual, compliance, KPI, and audit requirements
• Monitor subcontractor performance and raise concerns where standards are not met
• Manage subcontractor variations, disputes, and exit processes with oversight

Compliance, Risk & Assurance

• Support compliance with contractual, regulatory, and statutory requirements
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready contract documentation
• Assist with inspections, audits, and assurance activity
• Identify and escalate contractual and commercial risks

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key contractual point of contact for clients and subcontractors
• Work closely with Operations, Workforce Management, Finance, and Quality teams
• Provide clear contractual advice and guidance to internal stakeholders

Governance & Reporting

• Maintain the contract register and key-date tracker
• Prepare reports on contract performance, risks, and variations
• Escalate issues appropriately through operational governance structures

Scope & Complexity

• Contract portfolio value: £14m+ across public sector and subcontract arrangements
• Multiple public sector stakeholders within regulated environments
• Responsibility for both upstream client contracts and downstream subcontractor agreements

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
• Training or qualification in contract management, commercial management, business, or law, or demonstrable equivalent experience
• Working knowledge of UK public sector contracting principles

Desirable

• Professional qualification or membership (or working towards), such as:
• CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply)
• WorldCC / IACCM Contract & Commercial Management qualifications
• Training in contract law, negotiation, or commercial risk management

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience in contracts or commercial management, ideally in public sector or regulated environments
• Experience managing contract variations and change control
• Experience supporting or managing subcontractor contracts
• Understanding of contract governance, compliance, and risk
• Strong organisational and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work independently with appropriate operational oversight

Desirable

• Experience working with NHS, Home Office, or other government bodies
• Experience in healthcare, justice, security, or similarly regulated sectors

Personal Attributes

• Commercially aware and detail-focused
• Structured, organised, and reliable
• Confident working with multiple stakeholders
• Comfortable escalating issues and risks appropriately

General Information

The post holder may be required to perform other relevant and appropriate duties as reasonably needed. This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

• Benefits
• Pension salary scheme available
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): confidential 24/7 support
• Access to perks at work

Please note, in order to apply, all applicants need to have been living in the United Kingdom (with residency in the UK, such as UK/Irish/EU Passport, or an Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa) for the last 5 years with no more than a 28-day break being outside of the UK and no gaps in employment during this time.

EMAIL CV TO: RECRUITMENT@DRPASECURE.CO.UK

Shortlisted candidates will be asked for RTW, DBS/CTC consent and references.