Procurement Manager

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Staff benefits platform

Learning & development support

Job summary

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead high-value tenders and drive strategic procurement across clinical portfolios. You will develop compliance toolkits and act as a trusted adviser on governance frameworks, including the Procurement Act 2023 and PSR.

The role offers a hybrid/structured learning environment with development opportunities and NHS-based benefits. Internal applicants only, with a focus on policy, supplier management, and value for money.

Qualifications

• Advanced procurement knowledge and experience in complex procurements.
• Experience influencing stakeholders across disciplines and multiple suppliers.
• Evidence of leading or mentoring teams and delivering value for money.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-value, complex strategic procurements and tenders across clinical portfolios.
• Develop and roll out toolkits for compliance with key frameworks (Procurement Act 2023, PSR, Cabinet Office Spend Controls).
• Advise on escalations, manage evaluation processes, and provide robust supplier feedback.
• Provide resilience and leadership support to the Senior Procurement Manager and wider teams.

Skills

Negotiation

IT skills

Prioritisation

People management

Communication

Influencing & persuasion

Education

MCIPS Level 6

CIPS membership

Tools

MS Office

e-procurement systems

Job description

Job Overview

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Procurement Manager

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Full time

Interview Date: 15th September 2026. Subject to change. Date will be confirmed once shortlisting is complete.

This job is only open to applicants internal to WPL and UHS.

Please note WPL does not hold a Home Office Workers Licence and therefore unable to offer sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

Introduction

This Procurement Manager role is a unique opportunity within the Strategic Procurement function as it offers a genuine opportunity to directly develop transformation, and leadership skills, offering significant career development potential.

Role Overview

As part of our team, you will work closely with the Senior Procurement Manager, frequently supporting the wider strategic procurement function (covering both clinical and non-clinical categories). You will act as a trusted commercial partner and subject-matter expert, helping shape and deliver cutting-edge guidance on key legislative and governance frameworks, including the Procurement Act 2023, the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), and Cabinet Office Spend Controls.

Working for our organisation

At WPL we play a vital role for the NHS in Hampshire providing end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Wholly owned by both Trusts, at WPL you’ll be part of the larger NHS family and contributing to improving healthcare across the region.

Our services include strategic sourcing, value creation, tendering, contract and inventory management, distribution and materials management for hospitals in Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover and Southampton. You’ll be part of a dynamic and like-minded team working with stakeholders on challenging targets to drive innovation, value and efficiency from procurement and supply.

To recognise and reward your contribution we provide a range of great staff benefits. You’ll be eligible for a generous NHS pension scheme as well as all standard NHS terms of service and annual leave. Our employee benefits platform offers you discounts on a range of items, from the weekly grocery shop, high street shopping, days out with the family, and even holidays.

We also offer great learning and development opportunities to progress your career, with financial support as well as study days to help you grow and develop your skills. We'll fund the cost of your CIPS books as well as CIPS exams, along with fully paid study days to give you the space you need to learn.

To learn more about us, visit www.wessexprocurement.nhs.uk

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead Core Category Sourcing: Deliver high-value, complex strategic procurements and tenders across assigned clinical portfolios, driving contract performance, market engagement, and supplier relationship management.
• Drive Legislative & Governance Excellence: Develop, maintain, and roll out practical toolkits to elevate compliance and commercial capability across our partner trusts in key frameworks, including the Procurement Act 2023, the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), and Cabinet Office Spend Controls.
• Deliver Strategic Advice & Resilience: Act as a trusted adviser on complex procurement escalations, providing guidance on challenge management, moderating high-stakes evaluation processes, making decisions on statutory Notices, and delivering robust supplier feedback.
• Provide Strategic Resilience & Technical Leadership: Provide resilience for the Senior Procurement Manager across wider clinical and non-clinical teams, sharing expertise, supporting peers, and expanding your leadership footprint.

Person Specification Summary

This specific Procurement Manager role is suitable for anyone wishing to specialise in the rules and regulations, directly supporting the wider team with advice, guidance, templates and training, whilst also putting this work into practice to deliver exceptional outcomes for specific clinical departments and projects.

Past experience of both clinical and non clinical procurement is beneficial as the successful candidate will act as a subject matter expert on regulatory compliance across both the clinical and non clinical procurement teams. An always learning mentality is important, as is curiosity and the desire and initiative to challenge the status quo. This role will support the transformation of procurement processes, policies, behaviours, outcomes and performance and so the successful candidate must be able to develop and maintain relationships across WPL and its customers to drive positive change.

What We Offer

• Flexible hours
• Hybrid working
• Significant career development opportunities
• A supportive team culture

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Level 6 MCIPS Qualification, suitable equivalent qualification, or appropriate equivalent experience
• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or appropriate professional institute or relevant experience
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Knowledge of professional purchasing principles

Desirable criteria

• Expertise in Public Procurement Regulations obtained through personal project ownership and further formal training
• Project Management experience or relevant qualification

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• To evidence significant and advanced Procurement knowledge
• Evidence procurement management of large complex procurement projects, involving stakeholders from many disciplines / departments in client organisations and multiple suppliers
• Evidence influencing skills in support of contract management to achieve optimum service levels and continuous value for money challengeEvidence significant experience and understanding in the application of strategic sourcing methods
• Evidence experience of supplier relationship management
• Evidence of leading or mentoring
• Evidence a track record of delivery against targets
• Worked in a customer service environment with management of a specific customer base
• Demonstration of forging strong supplier and customer partnerships
• Presentation skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience working within the public sector
• Knowledge and understanding of the importance of Trusts Standing Financial Instructions
• UK procurement directives and legislation – evidence an understanding of the changes that the UK’s exit from Europe has on Public Sector Procurement
• Evidence to demonstrate new and innovative methods of achieving savings
• Proactive category management experience

Aptitudes And Skills Required

Essential criteria

• Evidence of complex negotiating, influencing and persuasion skills
• Evidence advanced IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and an ability to quickly learn and engage new e-procurement tools and systems
• Evidence an ability to prioritise and manage high levels of workload, multiple complex programmes, and projects and to deliver on time
• Evidence of people management – the ability to manage, influence and lead people who may or may not be direct reports
• Interpersonal, able to work as part of a large team
• Able to use initiative and work independently
• Good knowledge of systems and quality control processes