Overview

Job Title: Head of Sourcing

Function: Commercial

Location: This role can be hybrid, based in any of our offices

Type: Permanent

Salary: £75,5 12 with the potential to increase up to £88,837 over 3 years

Closing Date: 16th September 2025

Purpose of the role

The Head of Sourcing is responsible for managing the day-to-day sourcing operations of assigned categories. Manage sourcing staff, support and inform category management process. Advise category managers in buying procedures, coordinate effective market engagement, and ensure effective communication between category managers, key stakeholders and the sourcing delivery team. Ensure compliance to all procurement legislation.

What does a Head of Sourcing do at NHS Supply Chain?

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyse the key cost drivers, market dynamics and issues, areas of innovation, and alternative suppliers for business-critical risk area(s) with few alternatives and high costs to change, in consultation with relevant functions to provide solid market information for decision-making.
• Contribute to the development of annual and longer-term business plans; forecast performance against business key performance indicators (KPIs); develop business cases for key activities/projects; and estimate the financial and human resources required to deliver performance targets.
• Manage a significant operational area for the organization.
• Identify, select, and negotiate with vendors on product selection, assortment, and price for a medium to large category of products, merchandise, or services.
• Develop procedures and interpret and apply policy for area of expertise to achieve specified outputs, or advise the wider business on application of policy, then monitor implementation of those procedures within the organisation.
• Communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.

What skills, qualifications and qualities do I need to be successful?

• Able to gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Is consistently honest and straightforward; shares uncomfortable information in a clear and helpful manner. Maintains high ethical standards and professional codes of conduct.
• Recognises the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organisation.
• Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action and energises people to commit to this long-term direction. Regularly and enthusiastically describes how people's efforts make a difference.
• Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies. Is a strong big-picture thinker; effectively integrates long-term opportunities and challenges with day-to-day activities.
• Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organisation achieve its objectives. Understands people's motivations, engages them in the work, and builds a sense of energy toward common goals. Ensures that others can make decisions and take accountability. Celebrates progress.
• Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. Helps teams hold each other accountable for goals, adherence to policies and procedures. Tracks team metrics and milestones, redirecting effort, as necessary, for continued progress.
• Interprets and applies key financial indicators to make better business decisions. Fosters accountability for making good financial decisions; provides guidance to help the team make astute decisions. Summarises financial performance data and explains implications for the organisation.
• Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders. Ensures the organisation can balance the needs of multiple stakeholder groups. Speaks clearly about the need for the organisation to adhere to strong ethics and show cultural savvy when working with internal and external stakeholders.
• A master’s degree or equivalent
• Experience of interpreting strategy and policy to set and deliver objectives within medium to long time frames
• Significant experience of leading diverse teams across different disciplines.

How you’ll work

Hybrid working; a blend of home and office working 2/3 days in the office and 2/3 days at home.

In return for your passion, enthusiasm, and hard work you will be rewarded with an attractive salary and benefits package, consisting of:

• Performance led annual bonus scheme
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days
• Generous contributory pension scheme (up to 6% employee / 12% employer contributions of your base salary)
• Access to Flexible Benefits Scheme – you will be able to choose from a variety of benefits such Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance and additional pension contributions that suit you
• 2 days paid Volunteering Leave
• Long Service Awards
• Access to the Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts
• Flexible working options
• National Annual season ticket purchase scheme
• Eye Care vouchers
• Access to a free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

NHS Supply Chain, who are we?

We are a part of the NHS family, and our role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales. We make sure the products we supply are always safe, quality assured and delivered efficiently.

We’re always listening to the people who use our products, so that we’re aware of the changing needs across the NHS. In all, we serve every NHS Trust and operate a national network of distribution centres. We also manage relationships with more than a thousand suppliers, delivering more than 8,000,000 orders each year to more than 17,000 locations.

And by doing all of this on behalf of the NHS, this gives NHS staff more time to focus on their main priority of proving excellent patient care.

Our, Purpose, Vision and Strategy are clear. We provide direction, leadership, and commercial focus to improve health outcomes.

Vision: To make it easier for the NHS to put patients first

Purpose: Our role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health

Values:

• Be Inclusive
• Be Driven
• Be Enterprising
• Be The Difference

Other Information

• You will join on SCCL terms and conditions.

NHS Supply Chain is an equal opportunities employer

We reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role. SCCL is a company registered in England and Wales, with company number 10881715, to act as the management function of the NHS Supply Chain.