Job overview
The Head of Procurement and Contracts (Contracts and Procurement Team Manager) is the operational lead for NELPP’s commercial contract management and procurement sourcing activity across partner NHS organisations. Reporting to the Associate Director of Contracts and Procurement, the post holder will lead the day-to-day delivery of the sourcing and contract-management pipeline, providing quality assurance and governance oversight to ensure activity is compliant, timely and of a high standard. The role includes line management of a team of Band 7 Procurement and Contracts Managers, acting as an escalation point for operational issues, and leading selected high-value/high-risk procurements, contract remediation and stakeholder engagement as delegated. The post holder will work closely with senior stakeholders, clinical and corporate teams, and suppliers to deliver best value outcomes that support safe, effective patient care, alongside measurable benefits such as savings, cost avoidance and service improvement.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities include leading and developing the procurement and contracts team (recruitment, supervision, appraisal, objectives, wellbeing and capability building), allocating and balancing workload, and ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery. The post holder will oversee end-to-end procurement sourcing activity, ensuring robust documentation, evaluation governance, audit trails and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions and applicable procurement rules; provide expert advice on route-to-market, evaluation, negotiation and risk management; and lead complex procurements as required. The role will also lead operational contract management arrangements, ensuring contract registers, renewal plans and performance schedules are maintained; supplier performance is monitored through KPIs/SLAs and review meetings; and variations, extensions, novations, remediation and dispute/escalation processes are managed appropriately. We are seeking an experienced, credible commercial leader with strong NHS/public sector procurement and contract management expertise, excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, strong analytical and reporting ability, and a values-led, collaborative approach aligned to NHS values and EDI principles.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Degree-level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in procurement/commercial/contract management.
2. CIPS qualification (MCIPS) or working towards, or equivalent procurement qualification/experience at a comparable level.
Desirable criteria
3. Management qualification and/or formal leadership development.
4. Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, MSP, APM) or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Significant experience of procurement sourcing and contract management within the NHS or public sector.
6. Proven line management experience, including supervision, appraisal, performance management and staff development.
7. Experience of leading multiple concurrent procurement exercises and/or complex commercial projects to time and quality.
8. Experience of stakeholder engagement with senior leaders, clinicians and corporate services.
9. Experience of identifying, delivering and reporting commercial benefits (savings/cost avoidance/value improvement).
Desirable criteria
10. Experience working in a procurement collaborative / multi-organisation partnership or ICS environment.
11. Experience of contract remediation, dispute resolution or supplier recovery plans.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
12. Strong knowledge of procurement governance and applicable procurement rules/regulations relevant to NHS/public sector.
13. Sound understanding of commercial contract terms, risk allocation and contract lifecycle management.
14. Knowledge of value for money principles, social value and ethical procurement.
Desirable criteria
15. nowledge of healthcare service procurement routes and associated regulatory requirements where applicable.
Skills
Essential criteria
16. Ability to lead, motivate and develop a team and manage competing priorities.
17. Excellent written communication skills, including ability to produce clear business cases, governance reports and award recommendations.
18. Strong negotiation and influencing skills with internal and external stakeholders.
19. Strong analytical skills, including ability to interpret financial/commercial data and develop options appraisals.
20. Competent user of eSourcing tools, spreadsheets and procurement/contract management systems; able to produce clear management information.
Desirable criteria
21. Advanced data and reporting skills (e.g., dashboards, Power BI) and/or experience improving data quality and reporting processes.
Other
Essential criteria
22. Professional credibility, integrity and commitment to high standards of probity.
23. Resilient and calm under pressure; able to manage ambiguity and deliver at pace.
24. Collaborative, customer-focused and able to build trusted relationships.
25. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to NHS values.
Desirable criteria
26. Evidence of leading service improvement and change initiatives.
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
27. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
28. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
29. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
30. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B2 or higher.
31. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)