Job summary
- Main area
- Procurement
- Grade
- Band 8c
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-A-8918
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Thurrock Hospital
- Town
- Grays
- Salary
- £74,290 - £85,601 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Head of Procurement
Band 8c
About Us
EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:
- We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.
EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.
Our vision and values
Our Vision
“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.
Our Purpose
“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.
Our Values
- We Care
- We Learn
- We Empower
Our strategic objectives
- We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
- We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
- We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
- We will help our communities to thrive.
Our services
- Mental Health Services
- Community Health Services
- Learning Disabilities Services
- Social Care
Find out more about the services we offer in our service directory.
Job overview
We are excited to invite applications for an experienced Head of Procurement to lead the Trust’s procurement functions. This is a pivotal role for the Trust, involving developing and overseeing our procurement strategy and supply chain processes and ensuring compliance and value for money across all purchasing activities. The successful applicant will build on shaping and continuously improving our procurement functions, working with colleagues internally and system wide, enhancing supply chain efficiency, ensuring we realise optimal value across all supply chain activities and develop a culture of excellence within the team.
For an informal discussion contact Liz Brogan
Main duties of the job
To lead the Trust’s procurement function to ensure the provision of a legally compliant, effective and efficient supply of goods and services.
The post holder will be responsible for the Trusts’ procurement strategy, and will be required to participate in regional and national developments and initiatives and represent the Trust at the highest level when required and act as the procurement expert for the Trust.
To represent the Trust both within the health economy and nationally.
Working for our organisation
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The postholder has the lead role in the management and development of the procurement and purchasing function, its staff, its work and performance against national and locally agreed targets. Accountable for the effective deployment of human, physical and financial resources. Responsibility for the department budget.
Lead responsibility for all procurement processes. This includes ensuring that purchasing policies and financial procedures are in line with NHS and statutory guidelines. The postholder will develop and implement Trust wide policies and performance arrangements to secure effective implementation across all areas of the trust.
To be accountable for the annual trust procurement audits & to ensure Substantial Assurance is achieved.
Undertake in depth analysis of highly complex procurement opportunities and exercise judgement in assessing a range of options, taking into account the constant changes taking place within the wider NHS environment.
Identify and secure the active involvement and engagement of sponsors, key stakeholders including external agencies and key suppliers. Ensure collaborative working and the use of modern management of change processes to overcome resistance the change and ensure successful outcomes
Identify, develop, plan and implement local long term strategies and programmes that deliver national policy and strategy, and that modernizes and improves healthcare delivery and performance across the Trust. Lead responsibility for developing, implementing, reviewing and monitoring the Trust Procurement and Purchasing Strategy.
Advise the Trust on the interpretation of national policy and strategy and recommend action to be taken to ensure implementation and delivery within the Trust.
Responsible for the production of monthly reports and key procurement performance indicators both for internal and external reporting. The postholder will be required to use the KPI information to monitor and improve performance of the operational function ensuring key work streams are delivered (eg standardization, savings, area of influence)
The postholder will be the lead for the Trust on all procurement returns and responsible for providing purchasing information to the Executive Team and Board of Directors.
Lead responsibility for the maintenance and development of the e-procurement system, Atamis and other systems which may be implemented, and ensuring staff compliance with Trust procurement procedures (including leading on their implementation & education trust-wide) Responsibility for the ongoing development of purchasing systems and processes in order to improved efficiencies through the introduction of new technologies.
Identify, develop and deliver appropriate education, training and development programmes to managers within the trust to ensure that Trust procedures are adhered to, and to facilitate the delivery of the procurement strategy.Maintain an understanding of best practice nationally and internationally to support the strategic development of healthcare.
Lead on Trust-wide initiatives in key policy areas, including annual efficiency requirements.
To deputise for and undertake any other duties as delegated by the Director of Contracting, Business development and Procurement.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Full CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and supply) membership
- Masters of equivalent level of knowledge
- Evidence of post-qualification development, eg attendance at courses, seminars
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Advanced specialist knowledge of procurement practice within a public sector organisation.
- Expert and up to date knowledge in a range of procurement disciplines & strategic purchasing management.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the financial and organisational complexities of the NHS, Local Authorities and Social Care, including current national policies
- Comprehensive understanding of sustainability/ environmental requirements of the procurement function
- Advanced knowledge of quotation / tendering procedures and relevant legislation
Skills / Experience
Essential criteria
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
- Good oral and written communication skills based on fluency on the English language
- Significant experience of using computerised purchasing systems
- Significant NHS Procurement Experience
- Experience of leading and managing a team of staff
- Experience of training individuals and groups of staff at all levels of seniority.
- Highly developed influencing and negotiating skills with proven experience of success at the most senior levels of organisations
- Experience of writing and presenting reports at Board level
- Excellent presentation skills
- Able to communicate sometimes highly complex, highly detailed information where barriers to understanding may exist & communicate sometimes contentious recommendations where there are barriers to acceptance.
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Organized - able to manage own and others workload & prioritise as necessary.
- Able to articulate a clear vision with strong networking and high level interpersonal skills
- Ability to influence very senior officers and governance bodies to address financial, performance or governance issues
- Ability to analyse and interpret highly complex information to assess issues and provide workable solutions
- Excellent attention to detail, ability to extract key messages from complex analyses
- Excellent project and time management skills and ability to work to deadlines
- Able to work under pressure
- Proven leadership qualities
Additional Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel independently across sites as required
Desirable criteria
- Full UK Driving Licence
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Liz Brogan
- Job title
- Director of Contracting, Bus Dev & Procurement
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07710077469
List jobs with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors