Head of ProcurementNHS

Job summary

Shape the future of procurement at one of the UK's leading independent hospitals.

Are you an experienced procurement leader looking for an opportunity to make a real impact? Do you have the commercial expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to drive value while supporting exceptional patient care?

At Benenden Hospital, we're seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Head of Procurement to lead our procurement function and play a key role in delivering our strategic objectives. This is an exciting opportunity to influence organisational success, build strong supplier partnerships, and ensure that our procurement practices support both operational excellence and outstanding patient outcomes.

This role is primarily hospital-based, enabling close collaboration with clinical and operational teams. However, we recognise the benefits of flexibility and will consider a degree of home working where service needs allow.

You will oversee all procurement activity, driving value, quality and cost efficiencies across the organisation; build and manage strategic supplier relationships, negotiating high-value contracts and securing optimal commercial outcomes; implement and maintain robust procurement policies, governance arrangements and performance frameworks; provide expert commercial and procurement advice to support strategic decision-making and budget planning; and lead, develop and inspire the procurement team to deliver a high-performing, customer-focused service.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach. You will be a confident leader, capable of building strong relationships and influencing stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.

You will bring:

• Significant procurement leadership experience within a hospital, healthcare, or similarly regulated environment.
• A proven track record of delivering measurable financial savings and commercial value.
• Experience leading and developing a procurement or purchasing function.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing complex tender processes and high-value contracts.
• A strong understanding of procurement governance, compliance, and supplier performance management.
• MCIPS qualification (or equivalent experience) desirable.
• Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and procurement systems, with the ability to analyse data, produce reports, and use technology effectively to support decision-making and service delivery
• Demonstrates a commitment to delivering a professional, responsive and patient-focussed service.

Job description

The post holder will:

Hold overall responsibility for procurement activity across the Hospital, ensuring value, quality and compliance

Define, implement and continuously improve procurement vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to enhance organisational performance

Assess business challenges and proactively mitigate risks while identifying and delivering opportunities for improvement and value creation

Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders and external suppliers to support service delivery and innovation

Support Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I), and neurodiversity, ensuring respectful and inclusive interactions with patients, carers and colleagues.

Key Result Areas

Lead and manage all procurement activity across the Hospital, ensuring value for money, quality, compliance and effective governance

Develop team capability by identifying skills gaps and implementing targeted training and development plans

Define, implement and maintain procurement policies, procedures and controls in line with best practice and regulatory requirements

Build, manage and negotiate strategic relationships with key suppliers to maximise value, innovation and performance

Develop and oversee a robust supplier selection, evaluation and performance management framework, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement

Assess organisational demand and lead effective forward planning, including capacity and supplier risk management strategies

Identify business challenges, mitigate risks and drive opportunities for cost efficiency, service improvement and commercial value

Collaborate with departments to support budget setting, cost control and financial planning

Provide expert procurement advice and strategic guidance to senior stakeholders across the Hospital

Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners to enhance service delivery

Set departmental objectives and monitor performance against KPIs, ensuring delivery of strategic and operational goals

Support Contract Managers to ensure contractual obligations and performance standards are consistently met or exceeded

Drive continuous improvement of procurement systems, processes and ways of working

Develop and maintain effective stock control systems to ensure security, accuracy, efficiency and availability of supplies

Skills and Experience

Minimum of 2 years experience managing a procurement function in a hospital or healthcare environment

Professionally qualified (ideally MCIPS) or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience

Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to drive value and cost efficiencies

Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage at senior levels

Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to develop and motivate teams

Demonstrable experience of leading or managing a procurement or purchasing function

Strong relationship management skills, with evidence of effective stakeholder engagement

Confident and skilled negotiator with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes

Experience of tendering processes and managing high-value contracts in a regulated environment

Ability to identify opportunities for improvement, reduce costs and add measurable business value

Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess risk and support informed decision-making

Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and procurement systems, with the ability to analyse data, produce reports, and use technology effectively to support decision-making and service delivery.

Demonstrates a commitment to delivering a professional, responsive, and patient-focused service.

About us

Reporting to a Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for all procurement activities across the Hospital. You will lead the development and delivery of a forward-thinking procurement strategy, ensuring the organisation achieves best value while maintaining the highest standards of quality, governance, and compliance.

Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise supplier performance, and support the Hospital's continued growth and success.