Senior Buyer Digital Services

NHS National Services Scotland; Scotland; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Scotland is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer (Digital Services) to join their Procurement Team. In this key role, you will manage significant procurement projects for digital goods and services, ensuring compliance and value-for-money outcomes across the organization. The ideal candidate will possess a degree-level qualification and have substantial procurement experience, alongside strong communication and negotiation skills. The role offers opportunities for professional development within the healthcare sector.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible working arrangements

Membership of NHS Pension Scheme

Comprehensive health and wellbeing support

Access to staff benefits and discounts

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in procurement.
• Significant experience delivering procurement activity within a large organization.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation and procedures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex, high-value procurement projects for digital goods.
• Ensure continuity of supply across your portfolio of digital services contracts.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with service managers and stakeholders.
• Prepare tender specifications and procurement documentation.
• Lead negotiations with suppliers to secure optimum outcomes.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Public sector knowledge

Education

Degree-level qualification in procurement

Tools

Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365

Job description

Overview

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the UK employing around 40,000 staff in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and job roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health care services to a population of over 1.15 million and a wider population of 2.2 million when our regional and national services are included.

Senior Buyer – Digital Services

Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for delivering high-value, compliant, and innovative digital services? NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde is seeking a Senior Buyer (Digital Services) to join our Procurement Team, supporting the delivery of effective, value-for-money digital solutions across the organisation.

This is a key role within one of Scotland’s largest NHS procurement functions, where you will lead complex procurement activity, manage high-value contracts, and work closely with clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to ensure services meet organisational and patient-care needs.

As a Senior Buyer, you will

• Lead and manage complex, high-value procurement projects for digital goods, services and works, from strategy development through tendering, award and contract management.
• Act as the procurement lead on large and complex projects, managing staff on a project-by-project basis to deliver against agreed commercial workplans.
• Ensure continuity of supply across your portfolio of digital services contracts, proactively managing risk and performance.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with service managers, clinical users and other stakeholders to ensure procurement solutions are fit for purpose and deliver required outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong market knowledge to support effective sourcing strategies and value-for-money decisions.
• Prepare tender specifications, procurement documentation, evaluations and contract awards in line with public procurement legislation and NHSGG&C Standing Financial Instructions.
• Lead negotiations with suppliers to secure optimum commercial, financial and service outcomes.
• Ensure stakeholders involved in regulated procurement processes understand and comply with public procurement regulations and governance requirements.
• Produce regular financial and performance reports to support budget management, forecasting and decision-making.
• Represent NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde at national procurement forums and collaborative initiatives, contributing to best practice and continuous improvement.
• Support the Commodity Manager with recruitment, staff management, training and development, and deputise as required.

Who we are looking for

Essential:

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in procurement.
• Significant experience delivering procurement activity within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation and procedures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365.

Desirable:

• CIPS Diploma (Level 4) or equivalent professional procurement qualification.

Working pattern

The shift pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, with flexibility in start and finish times while covering core business hours. From 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 to 36 hours per week.

Why join us?

Scale & Impact

Play a leading role in digital procurement within Scotland’s largest Health Board, supporting services with a total annual trade spend of over £900m.

Professional Development

Opportunities to further develop your procurement career within NHS Scotland, including exposure to national procurement activity and support towards professional qualifications such as CIPS.

Supportive Environment

Join a collaborative, experienced Commercial Team committed to best practice, continuous improvement and staff development.

NHS Scotland Staff Benefits Package includes:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Flexible working arrangements
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme (employer contribution of 22.5%)
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing support
• Access to a wide range of staff benefits and discounts

Equal opportunity and application notes

NHSGGC-NHS Scotland encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We support applications from across the Armed Forces Community, recognising military skills, experience and qualifications during the recruitment and selection process.

NHSGGC recognise the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and the tenure is listed as various, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements and this will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process. Relevant HR policies on our HR connect site.

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

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