Overview
The successful candidate will work to assist the Deputy Head of Procurement and Head of Procurement in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of Strategic Procurement, in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and procurement procedures, to help deliver value for money for the trust. Under the direction of the Deputy Head of Procurement, the candidate will be the procurement lead for allocated work streams and projects, managing their own workload, and supporting the Deputy Head of Procurement and Senior Procurement Officers in providing a professional purchasing and supply service to the Trust. The post holder will undertake specific projects delivering against agreed timescales and outcomes for Trust Departments and Divisions.
Responsibilities
* To assist and manage the procurement of the full range of Trust contracts for goods and services, working within the public sector procurement policy and legal framework. These will be for high value complex contracts above procurement limits as well as those below.
* Support Trust Departments and Divisions in ensuring they comply with procurement legislation, UK law and Trust Standing Financial Instructions.
* The post holder must be able to work as part of a team, ensuring that relevant procurement information is disseminated throughout the Procurement department as necessary.
* Support the Assistant Director for Procurement and Deputy Head of Procurement and, under their direction, lead a range of procurement projects to deliver against the procurement workplan and cost improvement programme.
* Under the general direction of the Assistant Director for Procurement and Deputy Head of Procurement, prepare and issue tender documentation, evaluate and assist with the negotiation of tenders received against the specification, and prepare analytical summaries in preparation for contract awards, ensuring that all contracts maintain fair and equal competition.
About The Christie
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% of patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Support the Assistant Director for Procurement and Deputy Head of Procurement, and under their direction, lead a range of procurement projects including planning and selection strategies; tendering and commercial dialogue. This involves working closely with clinical and non-clinical staff in order to achieve project support and sign off of recommendations.
2. Assess the financial implications of contract awards to Trust budget holders including reporting formally on the implications of supplier and product changes.
3. Provide professional advice to senior managers in respect of the procurement process, including procurement regulations and the specification and evaluation of equipment and services. Accuracy is vital as errors can lead to legal challenges which could be costly and reputation damaging.
4. Responsible for the procurement of complex and high value contracts, ensuring appropriate project management processes are in place, status reports are compiled and procurement requirements are met.
5. Ensure value for money, develop auditable evaluation methodologies and achieve clinical sign off in respect of all procurement decisions. Evaluate financial and purchasing data, including selection of appropriate purchasing routes based on risk to the Trust, evaluating tenders, and producing reports to support the evaluation process.
6. Determine the most advantageous purchasing route for the Trust, providing information on UK purchasing legislation and the Trust’s SFO/SFI’s. Make recommendations to senior managers to influence decisions and reach appropriate conclusions.
7. Be the lead procurement expert for allocated projects, planning the process (typically 3–9 months), meeting deadlines, acting as the main contact between suppliers and senior managers, and producing reports and debrief letters while ensuring compliance to avoid supplier challenge.
8. Advise senior managers on the optimum procurement option for each project, resolving conflicting views and challenges.
9. Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies for a broad range of procurement projects.
10. Take account of whole life/life cycle costing issues and make recommendations to senior managers accordingly.
11. Identify the cost implications of all procurement projects and advise budget holders accordingly.
12. With the Assistant Director for Procurement and Deputy Head of Procurement, provide expert advice on procurement strategies including advice on alternatives.
13. Liaise with stakeholders and project representatives to determine precise requirements in terms of specification and other clinical or user-based requirements.
14. Lead on commercial negotiations with suppliers and hold supplier contract management/review meetings.
15. Work to solve problems using negotiation and persuasive skills.
16. Manage own workload and agenda, adapting to changing priorities within the Trust and wider NHS agenda.
17. Attend meetings, conferences, development workshops, etc., at locations within the country as deemed necessary and appropriate.
18. Organise and chair meetings as necessary to achieve objectives.
19. Make procurement and commercial decisions on behalf of the Trust within the parameters of the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and standing orders, scheme of delegation, Trust policies and current procurement legislation. Ensure use of appropriate procurement information systems and manage the introduction of new systems.
20. Regularly use information systems to create documents and reports, and provide ongoing advice and support to procurement team members.
21. Work closely with collaborative organisations such as NHS SBS and Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL).
22. Assist in the development of procurement procedures and policies.
23. Deputise for the Procurement Manager in their absence.
24. To liaise with stakeholders and project representatives to determine precise requirements in terms of specification and other clinical or user-based requirements.
25. To assist in the preparation and administrative work for large scale tenders including arranging and attending meetings with internal customers and external suppliers.
This advert closes on Thursday 13 Nov 2025
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