Overview

Job Title: Procurement Operations Lead

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: 16th 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 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 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.

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

• 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, for 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 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

About NHS Supply Chain

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.

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.