Job summary
Employer heading
Commercial Lead
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Our Organisation
The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.
As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.
As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition,Ìýalthough the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job overview
We are recruiting for a Commercial Lead, working within the NHS England Commercial Governance, Policy & Improvement function. This is an exciting role, at a time when there is significant policy change within public sector procurement, and this role will be pivotal to embedding those changes across NHS England.
We are looking for an experienced and capable individual, who ideally has procurement practitioner experience in the public sector. The role of policy lead will be regarded as the font of knowledge in procurement and commercial. Using your extensive knowledge and experience, you will have the opportunity to be innovative when reviewing, refreshing and developing procurement policies, tools and guidance.
You will be working with and supporting commercial colleagues, to maintain the highest standards whilst driving out inefficiencies and maximising value for money. You will have the chance to build networks across the health system and extend your knowledge and expertise across a wide range of complex commercial issues.
The successful candidate will be experienced in delivering change, and will be someone that can perform autonomously, whilst also bringing together colleagues in process redesign, and implementation of policy change. The role will interface with a variety of stakeholders including colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care, Cabinet Office and other Government Departments.
Main duties of the job
- Lead on embedding the legislative reform through the changes brought about by the Procurement Act 2023 and the Provider Selection Regime.
- Lead on the introduction of central procurement policies and initiatives into NHSE, including transparency; data and cyber security; net zero; prompt payment and modern slavery.
- Lead the development of the NHSE non-clinical standard terms and conditions and ensure they are regularly updated to take account of associated legislation, policies and Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs)
- Develop and deliver a plan for a procurement training programme for procurement professionals across NHSE.
- Work with the systems team in the design of workflows and processes within the e-Procurement System to embed any policy or legislative changes,
- Represent NHSE commercial team on cross Government working Groups to influence and shape future procurement policy and standards.
- Support the wider work of the team, including the development of policies, processes and guidance; development of comms or supporting and advisingÌý on commercial matters.
- Develop strong relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders including colleagues from Cabinet Office and other Government Departments.
- Provide advice and support to the central commercial function in promoting best practice policies and procedures across the wider NHS system.
Working for our organisation
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visitÌýhttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the .Ìý
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the Job Description for further information. Please ensure your supporting statement takes the capabilities and competencies into consideration.
We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to Master’s level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates an effective understanding of public sector commercial practices and procedures.
- Experience in interpreting commercial policy and the application to commercial practice
- Demonstration of experience in successfully managing and influencing stakeholders at different levels
- Track record in governance or assurance that includes developing / amending / implementing policies and procedures and managing risks.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Understanding of the commercial lifecycle and demonstrates extensive skills and behaviours at an expert level with detailed knowledge and substantial experience of the majority of the skills areas and applies them when undertaking complex and contentious commercial activities.
Values & Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Values diversity and difference operates with integrity and openness.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Camilla Ball
- Job title
- Head of Commercial
- Email address
- [email protected]
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