Overview

Join to apply for the Procurement Operations Lead role at NHS Supply Chain.

Function: Commercial

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

Type: Permanent

Salary: £64,062 with the potential to increase up to £75,367 over 3 years

Closing Date: 16 September 2025

Purpose of the role

Manage the day-to-day procurement operations, driving as well as removing inefficiencies and maintaining standardisation.

Lead procurement operations and manage the team to provide an efficient and effective support function to sourcing, the category teams and other internal business partners.

Advise the wider commercial teams with the relevant commercial processes, and ensure effective communication between category managers, key stakeholders and the sourcing team.

Provide exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers.

Work collaboratively across the functions to ensure that end to end procurement operations practices are optimal and enhance our overall delivery.

What does a Procurement Operations Lead do at NHS Supply Chain?

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze the key cost drivers, market dynamics and issues, areas of innovation, and alternative suppliers for business-critical risk areas 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 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 organisation.
• 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 organisation's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.
• Develop and propose own performance objectives; take appropriate actions to ensure achievement of agreed objectives, using the organisation's performance management systems to improve personal performance. Or manage and report on team performance; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project/account team members and hold people accountable for achieving them, taking appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team/personal objectives.
• Use the organisation's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions, including continuing professional development specified by professional or regulatory institutions, to build their professional capabilities. Provide informal training or coaching to others throughout the organisation in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Skills, qualifications and qualities

• Operates as a recognised expert to review and evaluate recommendations and requirements and to develop appropriate plans or deliver actions required. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Operates as a recognised expert to plan, organize, prioritize and oversee activities to efficiently meet objectives. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Operates as a recognised expert to obtain consensus between two or more parties who may have different interests, for the benefit of the organisation. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Operates as a recognised expert to monitor, interpret and understand policies and procedures and ensure their alignment with organisational strategies and work objectives. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Works at an advanced level to systematically estimate, allocate, and control costs in order to manage financial resources effectively. Typically works independently and provides guidance.
• 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 to ensure continued progress.
• Operates as a recognised expert to administer, monitor and manage the provision of services in line with an agreed contract. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• 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.

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.

Benefits

• 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 base salary)
• Flexible Benefits Scheme – Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan and additional pension contributions
• 2 days paid Volunteering Leave
• 1 day paid Wellbeing Leave
• Long Service Awards
• Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts
• Flexible working options
• National Annual season ticket purchase scheme
• Eye Care vouchers
• Free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Notices

NHS Supply Chain is part of the NHS family and sources, delivers and supplies healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and organisations across England and Wales. We work to ensure safety, quality and delivery efficiency to support patient care.