About this role
Job summary
The New Hospital Programme is more than building hospitals, it's a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in England. We're delivering over 40 new hospitals that will be modern, sustainable and built around the needs of patients and staff. We're looking for people who care about purpose, who thrive in complex environments and who want to help deliver change at scale for future generations.
Main duties of the job
The New Hospital Programme is seeking a Supplier Relationship Senior Manager to join the Commercial Market Management team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing and managing strategic relationships with major delivery partners, helping to strengthen supply chain resilience and support the successful delivery of the programme.
About You
Experience in supplier relationship management, commercial delivery, procurement, contract management or supply chain environments. Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with suppliers, partners and senior leaders. Confident communicator, able to influence and engage at Executive and Senior Leadership Team level. Experience of working in complex programmes and collaborating across multiple teams and organisations. Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and support the delivery of resilient, high-performing supply chains. Proactive, organised and able to manage competing priorities while delivering high-quality outcomes.
About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025,the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
Job description Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
For more information on the NHP programme
Please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date due to the high volume of applications received.
Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Post Graduate Degree level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area. Membership of (or to be currently working towards) the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) or World Commerce and Contracting (WCC - formerly IACCM) or relevant equivalent professional body.
Experience Essential
Knowledge of government initiatives, policies and GCF best practice approaches to SSRM/Strategic Partnering including Continuous Commercial Improvement Framework ("CCIAF"). Familiar with the commercial and contract delivery lifecycle including key activities during market engagement, procurement and delivery Should have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagements Experience of budgetary responsibility, including budget setting with evidence of working knowledge of financial processes Proven ability to manage stakeholders and coordinate supplier and third-party engagement to deliver business/organisational outcomes. Experience working within a large programme(s)/project(s) or working within/under a similar matrix organisational structure to NHP Experience of complex/senior stakeholder and supplier relationship management (SSRM), and supplier development in both the public and private sectors Experience using business intelligence to identify opportunities, deliver targets, enhance supplier/client performance, and align category strategies with wider business objectives
Skills Essential
Commercial / procurement / contract management strategy experience and understanding of market category management, with significant experience in leading change and improvement in a complex environment Ability to work with complex markets, with complex commercial structures to ensure value for money is achieved, working within a complex organisational structure with multiple stakeholders Adapting quickly to different environments, adjusting communication styles when appropriate. Resilient in interactions with suppliers and the team Leadership, management & coaching skills. Can promote a diverse and engaged working culture & build individual / team capability. Able to operate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders with differing views
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name NHS England
Address Any NHSE Office base
Nationally
SE1 8UG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)