Associate Director of Procurement

After a long period of collaborative working, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) merged with Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WSHT) in April 2021 to form University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex). This integration has created one of the largest acute trusts in the UK and a workforce of 20,000, hosting 1.5 million outpatient appointments, A&E visits and surgery cases every year.

UHSussex is a vibrant and inclusive organisation with patient care at our core. Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First.  Allied to this, in January 2022, we launched our Patient First, Planet First Green Plan setting out our approach to supporting the NHS to become the world’s first net zero health service.

This is an exciting time to join UHSussex. Our new 3Ts Hospital, part of the Government’s Future Hospitals Programme, will open in 2023. The hospital is a critical part of the Trust’s strategic vision, including delivery of its clinical strategy, representing an opportunity to improve system wide services for people across Sussex.

Associate Director of Procurement - £93,735 - £108,075 (AfC Band 9)

The Associate Director of Procurement will join a recently formed Commercial Directorate, which followed the Trust merger and brought together two separate Procurement Teams into a single structure and strengthened the commercial expertise within the Trust.

The Associate Director of Procurement provides strategic management and leadership to the Procurement function of UHSussex ensuring that the Trust maximises the value for money from all procurement activities, complies with its internal governance requirements and relevant legislation whilst balancing the demands of service delivery in a dynamic, multi-site acute and teaching hospital.

The postholder will provide expert strategic advice to the Trust on all procurement and supply chain matters, the achievement of financial savings and value for money for the goods/services the organisation procures. The Associate Director of Procurement will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Trust’s procurement strategy.

As the largest care provider in the Sussex Health and Care Partnership, the Associate Director of Procurement will be expected to play a key role in collaborative procurement activities with the Integrated Care System (ICS) and beyond. Integral to the role is the requirement to contribute, as both a senior leader and stakeholder, to the strategic development of procurement at ICS level.

Key responsibilities will include;

• Set the overall vision and strategy for procurement within the Trust, focused on set outcomes such as adding value to the patient and making real, lasting change
• Develop the Trust’s strategic procurement roadmap and contribute to the development of the ICS’s strategic procurement roadmap and identify and drive opportunities to collaborate on procurement opportunities within the ICS and more widely
• Build strategic relationships locally and nationally, commensurate with being a senior leader within the NHS
• Lead, develop and manage the procurement team building a collaborative working environment and culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
• Play a lead role where there may be legal challenge in relation to contract awards or contract breaches where the Trust may be legally challenged
• Employ effective leadership, communication, negotiation and influencing skills to drive effective cultural and technological change across the Trust
• Engage with and influence stakeholders at all levels in sensitive situations, delivering difficult messages where required to Executive and Trust Directors and senior clinical and operational leaders
• Participate in major procurements including supplier presentations and evaluation and moderation meetings

The post will require an individual who holds substantial experience in a senior procurement leadership role within a complex service-delivery focussed organisation, alongside a MCIPS/FCIPS qualification (or equivalent MBA/Master’s Degree). Knowledge and awareness of NHS or wider healthcare sector operating models and policy developments would be advantageous, although not essential.

UHSussex are working in partnership with Castlefield Recruitment to source this position. For further information on applying please contact Luis Covell.

General information for applicants

As an organisation, UHSussex support an inclusive culture and diversity for our staff.  We are committed to encouraging further development and growth from diverse groups, and we welcome applications from people of all abilities and from under-represented groups, which we are able to support with our range of flexible and inclusive options. Applications from those interested in working part-time, job share or another flexible approach are welcomed.

The Trust offers a wide range of active staff groups including our network groups for LGBTQ+, Disability, and SOAR for our Black, Asian and ethnic minority colleagues and allies.  Membership and participation in these networks is encouraged.

As a Director level post, the Trust will carry out checks in line with the ‘Fit and Proper Persons Regulations’ (FPPR), which apply to executive and non-executive roles within the NHS. This may include a standard or enhanced DBS check.

Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for those that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria.  For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker.