Diagnostic Network Procurement Manager

NHS; Colchester; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organisation in Colchester seeks a Diagnostic Network Procurement Manager to lead procurement projects, implement cost improvement initiatives, and collaborate with clinical teams. Candidates should have significant NHS experience, senior management capabilities, and a background in contract negotiation. The position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave on commencement

NHS discounts

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience in the NHS or similar organisation.
• Experience in highly complex contract negotiation.
• Ability to lead service changes and improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex procurement projects ensuring compliance with NHS standards.
• Implement cost improvement initiatives at the trust level.
• Collaborate with teams across multiple trusts to identify procurement opportunities.

Skills

Management/leadership

Contract negotiation

Team motivation

Understanding NHS governance

Education

Masters level education or equivalent experience

Management/leadership qualification

Project Management Qualification

Job description

Overview

Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Diagnostic Network Procurement Manager

The closing date is 09 October 2025

We are looking for a Procurement Manager to join us within the East of England Diagnostic Network Team. The network team has expanded to include four diagnostic networks: Pathology, Imaging, Endoscopy and Physiological Sciences. Our collaborative approach is central to our operations, and we are committed to supporting our trusts within the procurement domain.

Diagnostic networks advocate in creating an environment to support all our staff to develop and grow, share skills and knowledge, embrace innovation, deliver excellence and value within our procurement activities and have the ambition to become a world class procurement function of the future.

In this role you will lead specific project streams aimed at delivering Cost Improvement Programmes (CIP) at the local trust level. By engaging in regional procurement initiatives, participating trusts can leverage collective expertise and economies of scale to achieve cost savings and operational efficiencies.

You will need a background in procurement or contracting, with relevant qualifications or substantial experience. You will demonstrate the ability to lead procurement processes that are commercially sound and represent the best interests of the network. You will be able to identify areas to improve quality and reduce costs and help deliver innovative opportunities for member trusts.

This post is until 31st March 2026. Internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only.

Main duties of the job

• Lead complex procurement projects, ensuring compliance with NHS standards and achieving cost savings.
• Implement CIP initiatives at the trust level, aiming for significant savings without compromising service quality.
• Collaborate with clinical and operational teams across multiple trusts to identify procurement opportunities and streamline processes.
• Provide support to the Network Operational Director in delivering various projects within the networks.
• Identify new opportunities to deliver cost and value benefits across the network's portfolio.
• Represent the procurement domain and the relevant network at various events, necessitating occasional travel around the East of England

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients\' own homes

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what\'s widely regarded as the world\'s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

• Proven experience of working in a management/leadership role
• Experience of managing, leading and motivating a team
• Significant senior management experience in general management, planning or commissioning roles in the NHS or similar health or social care organisation
• Leading service changes to improve performance
• Significant experience of highly complex contract negotiation in a highly complex and contentious environment
• Identifying and interpreting national policy and implementing required changes
• Highly developed specialist knowledge and understanding of the way that NHS governance structures operation including. But not to, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts both from a technical and operational perspective
• Relevant, significant and up to date knowledge and understanding of the wide range and continually changing NHS governance and contractual issues (including legislation, NHS guidance and business rules)
• Responsible for a budget and budget setting

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience
• Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience at post graduate level
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Further relevant training
• Project Management Qualification

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.

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

8 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Home or remote working