Overview
The Senior Procurement Specialist (Band 6) supports the delivery of procurement for community and mental health services across multiple NHS Trusts, contributing to the implementation of procurement strategies and achievement of organisational objectives. The role involves managing defined categories of expenditure, leading sourcing and tendering activities, and delivering a portfolio of contracts to ensure value for money and compliance with procurement legislation. The post holder works autonomously while supporting the Procurement Business Partner, providing expert advice to stakeholders and acting as a lead specialist for specific procurement categories.
Main duties of the job
Additionally, the post holder contributes to service improvement, policy development, and team capability building through training, coaching, and continuous professional development. Overall, the role plays a critical part in delivering efficient, compliant, and strategic procurement services that support high-quality patient care and organisational performance.
Category management & sourcing
Take ownership of specific spend categories, analysing usage trends and market conditions to develop procurement strategies that deliver value for money. Lead end‑to‑end sourcing activities such as preparing specifications, running tenders and quotations, evaluating bids, and implementing standardisation across products and services to achieve efficiencies and compliance.
Contract & supplier management
Negotiate contracts with suppliers to secure optimal commercial outcomes and manage contracts throughout their lifecycle. Monitor supplier performance, conduct regular reviews, resolve issues, and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure services continue to meet organisational needs.
Stakeholder engagement
Build strong relationships with clinical and non‑clinical stakeholders across multiple Trusts, providing specialist procurement advice and guidance. Use influencing and communication skills to ensure stakeholders engage with procurement processes and adopt compliant, standardised solutions.
Job responsibilities
Project & operational delivery
Manage multiple procurement projects simultaneously, from initial scoping through to contract award. Coordinate stakeholders, suppliers, and internal teams; maintain procurement systems and databases; ensure accurate reporting and efficient processing of orders.
Compliance & governance
Ensure all procurement activity complies with public sector legislation, contract law, and internal policies. Maintain accurate records, follow tendering regulations, and support audits and governance processes to minimise risk.
Strategy & service improvement
Contribute to the delivery of procurement strategy and continuous improvement initiatives, including supporting key workstreams and implementing new systems or processes. Help develop policies and identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency.
Communication & reporting
Communicate complex procurement information clearly through meetings, presentations, and written reports. Lead negotiations, facilitate stakeholder discussions, and report on project progress, outcomes, and savings.
Team development
Support the development of colleagues through training, mentoring, and sharing best practice, while maintaining own professional development to ensure up‑to‑date procurement knowledge and skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* High standard or general education including English and Mathematics.
* Diploma in Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS Level 4), or equivalent relevant experience.
* Excellent verbal, written, presentational and numerical data analysis skills.
* Evidence of Continuous Professional Development; post‑education learning, or post‑graduate equivalent accreditation.
* Higher level of competency with Excel and procurement systems.
Experience
* Experience of a customer service environment.
* Procurement, tendering and contract management experience, competitive tenders/quotations.
* Experience of e‑tendering portal administration.
* Negotiating with suppliers and stakeholders across an organisation and a track record of achieving cost reductions and cost avoidance.
* Experience of leading projects within multidisciplinary teams to deliver significant change.
* Experience of Procure to Pay (P2P) systems' functionality, or equivalent.
* Practical programme or project management experience.
* Working knowledge of NHS and the issues facing procurement teams.
* Training and mentoring experience.
Knowledge
* Demonstrable knowledge of public sector procurement.
* Specialist day‑to‑day procurement knowledge relating to a range of categories of non‑pay spend.
* Highly competent with Microsoft Applications, and tendering portals.
* Understanding and experience of how business case development and approvals add value to the procurement function and inform investment decisions.
* A working knowledge of contract law.
Skills
* Strong customer focus and excellent customer service skills.
* Clearly manage priorities for self and others in order to meet specific deadlines.
* Encourage and provide feedback to staff to aid their development.
* Willingness to develop additional technical and specialist knowledge and skills in operational and procurement functions.
* Communicate effectively and confidently across all clinical and non‑clinical disciplines.
* Proactively manage stakeholder requests in a timely manner, and manage expectations.
* Learn and develop self and others.
* Interpersonal, able to work as part of a large team.
* Able to use initiative and work independently.
* Well organised, able to prioritise workload.
* Create, develop and maintain working relationships with client managers to achieve corporate and team objectives.
* Perform as a good team player and demonstrate interactive working with financial managers.
* Ability to understand and operate effectively within potential political sensitivities of an organisation.
* Demonstrable skills in managing and optimising procurement systems such as Procure to Pay (P2P) and eSourcing systems.
* Stakeholder analysis, engagement and management.
* Understanding of NHS procurement landscape.
Other
* To be able to travel effectively throughout the Trust.
* To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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