Job summary
Shape the future of procurement at one of the UK's leading independent hospitals.
Are you an experienced procurement leader looking for an opportunity to make a real impact? Do you have the commercial expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to drive value while supporting exceptional patient care?
At Benenden Hospital, we're seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Head of Procurement to lead our procurement function and play a key role in delivering our strategic objectives. This is an exciting opportunity to influence organisational success, build strong supplier partnerships, and ensure that our procurement practices support both operational excellence and outstanding patient outcomes.
This role is primarily hospital-based, enabling close collaboration with clinical and operational teams. However, we recognise the benefits of flexibility and will consider a degree of home working where service needs allow.
You will oversee all procurement activity, driving value, quality and cost efficiencies across the organisation; build and manage strategic supplier relationships, negotiating high-value contracts and securing optimal commercial outcomes; implement and maintain robust procurement policies, governance arrangements and performance frameworks; provide expert commercial and procurement advice to support strategic decision-making and budget planning; and lead, develop and inspire the procurement team to deliver a high-performing, customer-focused service.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach. You will be a confident leader, capable of building strong relationships and influencing stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.
You will bring:
- Significant procurement leadership experience within a hospital, healthcare, or similarly regulated environment.
- A proven track record of delivering measurable financial savings and commercial value.
- Experience leading and developing a procurement or purchasing function.
- Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience managing complex tender processes and high-value contracts.
- A strong understanding of procurement governance, compliance, and supplier performance management.
- MCIPS qualification (or equivalent experience) desirable.
- Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and procurement systems, with the ability to analyse data, produce reports, and use technology effectively to support decision-making and service delivery
- Demonstrates a commitment to delivering a professional, responsive and patient-focussed service.
Details
- Date posted: 02 November 2026
- Closing date: 16 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Other
- Salary: £57,794 to £67,993 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: E0100-2987
- Job locations: Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4AX, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will:
Hold overall responsibility for procurement activity across the Hospital, ensuring value, quality and compliance
Define, implement and continuously improve procurement vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to enhance organisational performance
Assess business challenges and proactively mitigate risks while identifying and delivering opportunities for improvement and value creation
Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders and external suppliers to support service delivery and innovation
Support Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I), and neurodiversity, ensuring respectful and inclusive interactions with patients, carers and colleagues.
Key Result Areas
Lead and manage all procurement activity across the Hospital, ensuring value for money, quality, compliance and effective governance
Develop team capability by identifying skills gaps and implementing targeted training and development plans
Define, implement and maintain procurement policies, procedures and controls in line with best practice and regulatory requirements
Build, manage and negotiate strategic relationships with key suppliers to maximise value, innovation and performance
Develop and oversee a robust supplier selection, evaluation and performance management framework, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement
Assess organisational demand and lead effective forward planning, including capacity and supplier risk management strategies
Identify business challenges, mitigate risks and drive opportunities for cost efficiency, service improvement and commercial value
Collaborate with departments to support budget setting, cost control and financial planning
Provide expert procurement advice and strategic guidance to senior stakeholders across the Hospital
Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners to enhance service delivery
Set departmental objectives and monitor performance against KPIs, ensuring delivery of strategic and operational goals
Support Contract Managers to ensure contractual obligations and performance standards are consistently met or exceeded
Drive continuous improvement of procurement systems, processes and ways of working
Develop and maintain effective stock control systems to ensure security, accuracy, efficiency and availability of supplies
Skills and Experience
Minimum of 2 years experience managing a procurement function in a hospital or healthcare environment
Professionally qualified (ideally MCIPS) or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience
Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to drive value and cost efficiencies
Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage at senior levels
Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to develop and motivate teams
Demonstrable experience of leading or managing a procurement or purchasing function
Strong relationship management skills, with evidence of effective stakeholder engagement
Confident and skilled negotiator with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes
Experience of tendering processes and managing high-value contracts in a regulated environment
Ability to identify opportunities for improvement, reduce costs and add measurable business value
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess risk and support informed decision-making
Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and procurement systems, with the ability to analyse data, produce reports, and use technology effectively to support decision-making and service delivery.
Demonstrates a commitment to delivering a professional, responsive, and patient-focused service.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience managing a procurement function in a hospital or healthcare environment.
- Proven leadership and people management experience, with the ability to develop and motivate teams.
- Demonstrable experience of leading or managing a procurement or purchasing function.
- Experience of tendering processes and managing high-value contracts in a regulated environment.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professionally qualified (ideally MCIPS) or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
About us
Reporting to a Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for all procurement activities across the Hospital. You will lead the development and delivery of a forward-thinking procurement strategy, ensuring the organisation achieves best value while maintaining the highest standards of quality, governance, and compliance.
Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise supplier performance, and support the Hospital's continued growth and success.
Employer details
- Employer name: Benenden Hospital
- Address: Goddard’s Green Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4AX, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.benendenhospital.org.uk/