Materials Management Assistant

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated Materials Management Assistant (Band 3) to join the busy Procurement and Supply Chain team at Southmead Hospital. The role supports frontline clinical services by ensuring wards have the right products at the right time and place.

The post involves active, organised, customer-focused work across clinical areas with shifts from 7:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, in a fast-paced NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE/O level standard.
• Knowledge of supply chains and stock control.
• Strong communication and numerical skills.
• Willingness to work flexibly in a healthcare procurement environment.
• Experience in a supply chain role desirable with CIPS/HCSA training viewed favourably.

Responsibilities

• Maintain stock levels through routine replenishment.
• Generate and process orders using stock control systems.
• Receive, check and unpack deliveries.
• Keep storage areas safe, organised and tidy.
• Build relationships with clinical teams and suppliers.
• Monitor stock availability and resolve supply issues.
• Work across departments and locations within Southmead Hospital site.
• Support efficient procurement and value-for-money efforts.

Skills

Knowledge of supply chains

Good communication skills

Initiative and adaptability

Numerical skills

Education

GCSE standard

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Materials Management Assistant (Band 3) to join our busy and dynamic Procurement and Supply Chain team at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a hands-on role that plays a vital part in supporting frontline clinical services by ensuring wards and departments have the right products, in the right place, at the right time. Working primarily within clinical areas across Southmead Hospital, including the state-of-the-art Brunel Building, you will help manage and replenish a wide range of medical and non-medical consumables that are essential for patient care.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys being active, organised and customer-focused, and who takes pride in delivering a high-quality service in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

“Around £1bn could be saved through better procurement” – Lord Carter

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities Include

• Maintaining agreed stock levels through routine replenishment activity.
• Generating and processing orders using established stock control systems.
• Receiving, checking and unpacking deliveries in line with departmental procedures.
• Ensuring storage areas are safe, organised and maintained to a high standard.
• Building positive working relationships with clinical teams, support services and external suppliers.
• Monitoring stock availability and resolving supply issues to minimise disruption to patient services.
• Working across a range of departments and locations throughout the Southmead Hospital site.
• Supporting the Trust's commitment to efficient procurement and value for money.

This role requires a proactive approach, excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering a reliable service to our clinical teams.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

The Successful Candidate Must

• Have knowledge of supply chains, be well organised
• Have the ability to use your own initiative and work within agreed guidelines.
• Have good numerical skills and attention to detail will also be required.
• Have experience of working in a supply chain role, with membership or training for CIPS or HCSA would be desirable.
• Be educated to GCSE standard and be computer literate, with a decent knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel

Experience of working within an office environment is also desirable. We are a customer focused team, therefore good communication skills are required, as well as a strong team ethic.

You will become part of a team of staff covering the Southmead Hospital site. Shifts will be allocated on a rotational basis across the team to cover the service hours of 7:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday; as such you must be available to work any 7.5 hour shift within those hours.

Person specification

Education And Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to GCSE/ O level

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of “Supply Chains
• Good communication skills
• Able to work under own initiative
• Good time management and organisation skills and numerical skills
• Problem Solving skills
• Proficient with PC, with knowledge of Microsoft packages e.g., Outlook, Word and Excel

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience within a customer facing role, such as retail or hospitality

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in an office environment
• Supply chain experience

Personal qualities

Essential criteria

• Strong team ethic
• Flexible approach to working hours and location
• Attention to detail

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

Additional benefits and information

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.