Head of Supply Chain

Integrated Care System; Worthing; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Head of Supply Chain to lead strategic initiatives and manage procurement operations. Candidates should have senior leadership experience in supply chain logistics, preferably in a healthcare setting, and hold relevant qualifications. The role offers a competitive salary between £64,455 and £74,896 per annum pro rata, along with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Comprehensive employee wellbeing programme

Flexible working opportunities

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in Supply Chain Logistics, preferably NHS.
• Evidence of undertaking development to improve understanding of equality issues.
• Experience in procurement leadership positions within a complex organisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Supply Chain strategy and minimize supply chain disruption.
• Engage with stakeholders and influence at all levels.
• Produce reports on supply chain activity for internal and external audiences.

Skills

Excellent written and oral skills

Influencing and negotiating abilities

Planning and delivery skills

Knowledge of electronic procurement systems

Education

MCIPS, CILTS or Chartered Professional Status

MBA or Masters Degree in Purchasing, Supply, Logistics, or Business

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Head of Supply Chain

The closing date is 24 August 2025

University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx) has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Supply Chain.

The Head of Supply Chain is part of the senior Procurement Leadership Team at UHSx, reporting into the Associate Director or Procurement. The post-holder will lead the Supply Chain strategy, minimise supply chain disruption through their leadership of receipt, distribution and material management teams and work with peers in category management to improve overall performance enabling the Trust to treat more patients at reduced cost.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be responsible for the provision of a comprehensive supply chain service ensuring that all activities are compliant statutory standards and national procurement regulations, in addition to the Trust's Procurement Policy and Standing Financial Instructions. The post-holder will provide leadership to the Trust's Materials Management Service activities such as lean procurement, operational business planning, demand planning, inventory planning, lead time optimisation, product life cycle management, capacity planning and footprint planning.

The Head of Supply Chain will also have responsibility for the Procurement Systems team which managed all procurement systems including the e-procurement system, catalogue management system, contract management database and e-tendering system. The post-holder will lead on the development of these systems ensuring that these are utilised to their fullest extent including for reporting and analytical purposes.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme,for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop.We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Job responsibilities

• Engage with and influence stakeholders at all levels and in sensitive situations, delivering difficult messages where required to Executive and Trust Directors and senior clinical and operational leaders.
• Build and maintain the reputation of the Procurement and Supplies service as a highly professional and enabling business partnering service.
• Champion procurement and promote the benefits of leading procurement practices internally and externally, resulting in procurement having a visible and high profile within the Trust.
• Provide expert guidance and counsel in relation to procurement logistics, regulations and procurement-related areas of Standing Financial Instructions. This will include regular review of internal policy documents, proposing and implementing changes as required.
• Produce reports on supply chain activity for internal audiences including Sustainability Committee and Trust Management Board as well as external audiences including NHS England and the Sussex Health and Care Partnership.
• Participate in the response to Procurement & Supplies related Freedom of Information requests, liaising with the Trusts FOI team as needed and ensuring that

Person Specification

Experience & Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in Supply Chain Logistics, preferably NHS
• MCIPS, CILTS or Chartered Professional Status;
• Additional professional development through taught courses, seminars or other workplace experience, equivalent to a Masters level qualification
• MBA or Masters Degree in a relevant field e.g. Purchasing, Supply, Logistics, Business etc

Skills

• Excellent written, oral and presentational skills
• Able to present and explain complex commercial matters in formal and other settings to range of audiences.
• Able to influence and negotiate with senior managers within the Trust and in external organisations, where they may be differing objectives and priorities
• Excellent skills to enable planning and delivery of service plans for the forthcoming year and in the medium term
• Able to develop policy and procedure for operational procurement areas
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• High level of competency in word processing, spreadsheet and presentational software packages
• Knowledge and understanding of electronic procurement systems and development of those systems

Specific Role Related Requirements

• Experience in procurement leadership positions within a complex, service-delivery focussed organisation
• Knowledge and awareness of developments in NHS Procurement operating model.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS 10 Year Plan and other policy developments that will affect the NHS

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

£64,455 to £74,896 a yearper annum pro rata