Product Owner jobs in United Kingdom

Are you ready to make a real impact in a forward-thinking, dynamic NHS procurement environment? We are looking for a proactive and highly motivated procurement professional to join our team and deliver expert support across Care Groups and Corporate Divisions within Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

In this key role, you will provide both strategic advice and hands-on operational support to ensure value for money, efficiency, and compliance across all procurement activities. You'll act as a trusted adviser, building strong relationships with internal stakeholders to support high-quality decision-making and service delivery.

As a recognised procurement lead within the Trust, you will take the lead on complex, high-risk, and high-value procurement projects – including major capital programmes and the sourcing of consumable items. Your ability to influence, negotiate, and manage risk will be instrumental in delivering robust, commercially sound outcomes.

You will also play a vital role in the development and implementation of procurement services that align with our strategic vision for Category and Contract Management. By supporting continuous improvement and innovation, you\'ll help shape a procurement function that meets both current needs and future demands.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative and ambitious team, where your expertise will directly support the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Develop and manage close working relationships between the Services and their vendor base, for designated portfolio; ensuring performance standards are consistently achieved. Organise regular meetings with key stakeholders and suppliers to fact find, solve problems, and review contract performance.

Responsible for the collection of information regarding supplier performance for contract review. Collate information regarding customer perceptions of the success of the contracts and services negotiated on their behalf and the overall perceptions of the effectiveness of the Procurement department.

Maintains effective supplier and provider partnership and relationship strategies

Responsible for the authorisation of new contracts and procurement\'s in accordance with Services\' Standing Financial Instructions.

Use highly developed persuasion and influencing skills to engage with and influence key stakeholders at all levels within the Services in order to facilitate participation in identified procurement activity.

Provide advice and expertise in all aspects of procurement activity to the Services. This advice and expertise can be in highly complex areas and involve detailed knowledge of areas such as Procurement Legislation.

Support the deployment of Reference Groups as the process to identify ideas and initiate project work with clinicians and nursing staff and/or corporate heads.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

For more information on this role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

We look forward to your application!

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable number of applications is received.

Qualifications

• Master\'s degree or equivalent level of knowledge gained through work experience
• MCIPS - Corporate member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (by examination)
• Project Management Qualification

Desirable criteria

• Member of the Institute of Logistics

Essential criteria

• Thorough and in-depth knowledge of computerised procurement systems
• A sound knowledge of contract law
• Fully conversant with NHS Terms and Conditions of Contract

Essential criteria

• Specialist Procurement expertise and contract management experience
• Experience of managing contracts or budgets above £10m
• Experience of developing highly complex contractual agreements

Essential criteria

• Ability to present complext information to wide audiences with authority and credibility
• Ability to influence at all levels
• Ability to lead and implement change in a challenging environment

Desirable criteria

• Full Clean UK Driving Licence and access to own car for business purposes

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn\'t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Senior Category Manager JD & PS (PDF, 560.5KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
• Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
• Trust marketing brochure (PDF, 2.1MB)