Deputy Head

The Contracting and Performance Team is recruiting a Deputy Head of Contracting and Performance on a 2-year fixed term, part-time job share basis (0.6 x WTE). The successful candidate will share the Deputy Head role with an existing member of staff working 0.4 x WTE, providing continuity, resilience, and additional capacity for the team at a key time for the Trust.
The Contracting and Performance function sits at the heart of how NEAS plans, delivers, and assures high-quality services. As Deputy Head of the team, you will support the Head of Contracting and Performance to ensure robust contracting and sub-contracting arrangements, strong performance oversight, and effective collaboration with operational and corporate leaders across the Trust and wider health system.
You will play a key role in ensuring that NEAS is able to demonstrate delivery against contractual requirements and national and local performance standards, and in supporting internal work to improve services, drive efficiency, identify and manage risks, and assure the services provided on the Trust's behalf by a range of independent sector ambulance providers., + Support the development, negotiation and management of high-value healthcare contracts, sub-contracts and service level agreements (SLAs), ensuring compliance with NHS standards and legal requirements.
+ Help lead the Trust's performance management approach, including supporting the delivery of the Integrated Quality and Performance Reporting (IQPR) framework and production of clear performance insight for Executive, Committee and Board audiences.
+ Support delivery of national and contractual performance standards, including Ambulance Quality Indicators (AQIs), Integrated Urgent Care KPIs, and associated improvement plans.
+ Maintain effective relationships with commissioners, suppliers, regulators and internal stakeholders, representing NEAS in relevant forums and deputising for the Head of Contracting and Performance as required.
+ Provide leadership and development support to colleagues within the Contracting and Performance team, helping to maintain a high-performing and professional culture.
+ Contribute to the annual planning and contracting cycles, and cross-functional projects supporting service improvement and long-term sustainability.

Working for our organisation
We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.
Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!
Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.
We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.
We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.
Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective and responsive care for all".
We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.
From 01/04/25 If your role needs a DBS you'll be subject to salary deduction totaling £49.50, spread over first and second pay.