About The Organisation

National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating at the heart of NHSScotland, providing support and advice at strategic and operational levels. NSS supports customers to deliver services more efficiently and effectively, offering shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland, working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions and high-quality services that help stakeholders free up resources for essential services.

The Post

We have a unique opportunity for a pharmacy or procurement professional with significant experience in purchasing or supply to join the National Procurement Medicines Team. The role is to help ensure patient access to medicines in Scotland by working with a diverse range of suppliers, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS stakeholders to support both reactive communication and management of medicines shortages and to proactively influence improvements in supply chain resilience. This includes collaborating with suppliers to review key performance indicators and progress improvement plans.

The postholder will lead work to strengthen National Procurement’s links with pharmaceutical distributors and will manage a number of projects relating to the efficient and effective purchasing and supply of medicines. This includes influencing the development of reporting systems to support managing supply and monitoring contract implementation. The post-holder will provide expert advice to NHS Scotland, Scottish Government and other organisations as required on medicines purchasing and supply and act as the professional secretary to the NHS Scotland Medicines Purchasing and Logistics Leadership group.

The Candidate

The post-holder is commercially aware and should be a strategic thinker and problem solver with excellent organisation, communication and influencing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. The post-holder will also demonstrate personal qualities consistent with NHS National Services Scotland’s values: to work together with respect and care, openness and integrity, to focus on our customers, demonstrate commitment to each other and excel and improve.

Location and Working Pattern

National Procurement has offices in Edinburgh (Gyle Square) and Larkhall (National Distribution Centre). The organisation supports hybrid working between offices and home. Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes a pension scheme, comprehensive work-life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion

NSS is a national board and, as an anchor institution, aims to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace. NSS offers long-term commitments to staff health and well-being and provides many learning and development opportunities to support diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are equality staff networks in place for all staff to join. We are an equal opportunities employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, NSS aims to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot.

Further Information

If you’ve never considered a role like this before, explore it to see if it might be for you. For an informal discussion, contact Lindsay McClure, Associate Director of Medicines Pricing and Supply, on 07717 468776 or lindsay.mcclure@nhs.scot.

Closing date for completed applications is 26th September 2025. Further information on NSS is available at: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/.

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail, so check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders). NSS is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the Disability Confidence Scheme, guaranteeing to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.