Commodity Specialist

NHS Scotland; Larkhall; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A national healthcare organization is seeking a motivated individual to join their National Procurement Medicines Team in Larkhall. This role involves ensuring timely supply of medicines, managing stock allocations, and supporting procurement projects. Candidates should have HNC level education and experience in procurement. The position supports hybrid working arrangements and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Work-life balance policies

Occupational health services

Qualifications

• Proficient working knowledge of MS Excel.
• 2 years of experience in the procurement profession.
• Excellent personal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain target stock holdings for medicines.
• Calculate stock allocations and respond to stock requests.
• Support procurement projects using formal public tendering processes.

Skills

Data gathering and analysis

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

HNC level education

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Overview

National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating at the heart of NHSScotland, providing support and advice at strategic and operational levels. NSS supports customers to deliver services efficiently and effectively, offers shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards, and aims to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. It works with Health and Social Care colleagues to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions and systems, delivering high-quality services that help stakeholders re-invest resources into essential services.

The Post

A unique opportunity has arisen to join the National Procurement Medicines Team and play a key role in the distribution of vaccines used in national vaccination programmes and in the management of nationally held medicines emergency planning stockpiles. Working closely with a diverse range of suppliers, distributors and Health Board representatives, you will ensure target stock holdings are maintained, calculate stock allocations and help respond to stock requests to ensure “On Time in Full” supply of medicines to health boards. Within the Medicines Team, the post holder will have the opportunity to gain procurement experience through supporting a range of medicines procurement projects using formal public tendering processes and will be trained in Good Distribution Practice (GDP), the minimum standards that help ensure the integrity of medicines as they pass through the supply chain.

The Candidate

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person who is commercially aware, has strong data gathering and analysing capabilities with an eye for detail, and works effectively in multidisciplinary teams. The candidate will also demonstrate personal qualities consistent with NHS National Services Scotland’s values to work together with respect and care, openness and integrity, to focus on our customers, demonstrate commitment to each other and excel and improve.

The Post Holder Should

• Be educated to HNC level and have proficient working knowledge of MS Excel and/or ability to manage data effectively
• Have 2 years demonstrable experience preferably within the procurement profession
• Show initiative and excellent personal, written and verbal communication skills and computer literacy

Location and Working Pattern

National Procurement has offices in Edinburgh (Gyle Square) and in Larkhall (National Distribution Centre), and NSS will support hybrid working between offices and home. This is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.

It is a condition of employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work-life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.

Inclusion

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and balance personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are an equal opportunities employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, NSS aims to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail]

Further Information

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Michael Welsh, Commodity Manager via email [e-mail]. Closing date for completed applications is Monday 6 October 2025. Further information on NSS is available at: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders). NSS is an equal opportunities employer and as a committed participant in the Disability Confidence scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.