Job Summary
Our ambition is high, and this role is integral in supporting NHSBT’s major transformation of the Commercial Function. Reporting to the Commercial Director you will provide strong thought leadership and strategic thinking, collaborate effectively, embrace volatility and work successfully within a broad and complex organisational structure.
You will have the opportunity to transform our Commercial Function for the benefit of donors, patients, and hospitals. Also, the opportunity to use your outstanding leadership skills to coach, develop and lead the NHSBT team and our suppliers by shaping and delivering transformational change.
NHSBT plays a critical role by ensuring hospitals have the blood products, plasma, tissues, organs, and stem cells to deliver treatments and operations to patients. We take a proactive role in driving improvement and innovation, from emerging new technologies and evolving clinical practice, while reacting to changing demographics and trends.
Main Duties
You will pay a leading role supporting NHSBT in a major transformation of the Commercial Function. Your responsibilities will include:
1. Manage a variety of complex workstreams, often needing to shift between multiple areas.
2. Engage with a range of stakeholders and have the ability to manage and build relationships.
3. Responsible for creating, maintaining, and developing the pipeline of activity across NHSBT. This includes ensuring that the ATAMIS system is updated at all times to capture the needs of the business resultant activities with appropriate resourcing.
4. Maintain responsibility for the delivery of the most highly complex and cross-functionally supported sourcing and procurement activity in NHSBT.
5. Lead on a range of relationships and key strategic alliances with senior internal and external stakeholders to shape commercial strategies and ensure delivery of commercial activity across UKHSA.
6. Drive innovation, with a strong focus on value for money and flexibility.
7. Take responsibility for the vision, strategy, and framework for a number of categories on behalf of the Commercial function.
8. Provide strong thought leadership and strategic thinking, collaborate effectively, embrace volatility, and work successfully within a broad and complex organisational structure.
9. Manage complexity, applying judgement and making decisions whilst collaborating effectively with levels within the Commercial Function and across NHSBT.
10. Be an effective leader with strong interpersonal and negotiating ability, and be able to lead teams, acting as an advocate for change and continuous improvement.
11. Responsible for corporate systems (including design, implementation, evolution, maintenance, management and operation),
You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
12. Significant procurement management experience within a large, multi-disciplined organisation(s).
13. Significant experience operating at a strategic procurement level in a senior leadership role, working with multiple stakeholders, developing, and fostering effective partnership approaches, acquired through training and practical experience.
14. Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of procurement strategies, public procurement regulations, EU Directives and OJEU process models and the capability to deploy these effectively across the organisation. The intellectual capacity and capability to seek out better practice and external developments through National and International Networks and apply to NHSBT.
15. Expert knowledge, understanding and experience of applying / implementing procurement initiatives including development of supplier relationships, Key Performance Indicators, Contracts within the wider NHS approach to governance and current better practice in this area. Additionally, to have a high level of knowledge of the workings of the Assurance Framework, Audit and Inspection and Performance Review processes.
16. Expert experience, knowledge and understanding of contract law, terms and conditions, UK legislation, Freedom of Information Act and common law in relation to all aspects of purchasing and supply. An understanding and application of performance management systems.
17. Expert knowledge and experience of operational and strategic procurement management in a large organisation.
18. Knowledge, understanding and practical experience of complex internal multi-disciplined relationships and international relationships across global manufacturing and service supply chains.
19. Able to bring an open mind to the funding issues faced by NHSBT and the ability and knowledge to use the procurement process to assist and support the strategic savings plans.
20. Understanding, knowledge, and ability to interpret the general external NHS environment, NHS strategy, NHS policies, the workings of Central Government, Ministers of State and Senior Civil Servants is a key facet to this role. To understand how these translate into NHSBT goals and standards. Work within existing policies and procedures whilst using research and benchmarking data to challenge existing norms.
21. Knowledge and practical experience of negotiating in a hostile environment, Category Strategy and Industrial Strategy, Commercial Systems, Investment Governance and Assurance.
22. Experience in selecting, setting up and configuring commercial IT Systems.
23. Expert knowledge of data and reporting, and of contract drafting, market engagement and social value, sourcing strategy and sustainable procurement.
24. Expert knowledge of tender strategy and document creation and evaluation methodologies.
25. Experienced in Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).
Qualifications and Training
26. Educated to Master’s degree level and have a recognised MCIPS Professional Procurement Qualification, with significant/several years post qualification experience plus evidence of continued professional development.
27. Higher than average, demonstrable knowledge of IT skills is required. An up to date understanding of e-Procurement / IT / business intelligence technology and how this can be proactively developed, in order to enhance the deployment and automation of procurement processes. Frequent use of Microsoft software packages is expected.
28. Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
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