About this role
Job summary
Make a meaningful difference through smarter procurement
At Willen Hospice, every pound mattersbecause every pound helps us support patients and families when they need it most. Were looking for a Procurement Manager who can bring structure, insight, and strategic thinking to our purchasing and contract management activities.
This is more than a procurement role. Its an opportunity to shape how resources are used across the organisation, ensuring value for money, strong governance, and high-quality supplier partnerships that ultimately support outstanding care.
Main duties of the job What youll do:
Lead and shape a high-performing procurement function across the hospice
Own the full contract lifecycle, from sourcing to renewal and everything in between
Build strong supplier partnerships and drive consistent performance
Identify cost-saving opportunities and maximise value for money
Oversee contract and procurement systems, ensuring accurate and effective management
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, policies, and governance standards
About us
Who we are:
Set in the tranquil grounds of Willen Lake, Willen Hospice is the leading provider of specialist palliative care in the Milton Keynes area. We offer round-the-clock, expert care to local patients with a life-limiting illness, both in their own homes and in our In-Patient Unit. Our passionate staff and volunteers make sure our care is personalised to each patients needs and supports their loved ones too. We have a thriving Therapeutic & Wellbeing service providing counselling, physiotherapy, activity groups and more, and a specialist Lymphoedema service. As a registered charity, we raise vital funds through our dedicated Business Development team and our growing portfolio of high street and online shops, to ensure our care stays free of charge.
Job description Job responsibilities 1. Procurement Leadership
Create and lead the hospice's centralised procurement function, maintaining consistent policies, processes and governance across all departments.
Ensure the Hospice is on track with its Strategic objective in relation to cost savings.
Own and manage the Hospice procurement policy.
Create, own and manage the clinical asset register including liaising with the Trust and Foundations consultant to procure grants for capital equipment.
Manage clinical stock reordering and also reconcile NHS invoices with billing
Manage and develop the preferred supplier list and vendor management framework, ensuring robust due diligence and ongoing supplier performance monitoring.
Conduct regular spend analysis to identify savings opportunities, rationalise the supply base and support budget holders in making informed purchasing decisions.
Champion procurement best practice across the hospice, providing guidance and support to colleagues at all levels.
Maintain and develop procurement thresholds, approval workflows and delegated authority frameworks in line with the hospice's financial regulations.
Produce regular management information, spend analytics and savings reports for the Director of Finance & IT, The Exec team and the SLT (Senior leadership team).
2. Ownership of Contracts & Contract Management
Maintain full ownership of the hospice's contracts register, ensuring all contracts are captured, current and accurately maintained.
Lead on all stages of the contract lifecycle scoping requirements, tendering, evaluation, award, mobilisation, in-life management, renewal and exit.
Monitor contract performance (in collaboration with contract owners), KPIs and SLAs, proactively managing underperformance and escalating issues where required. Holding contract owners within the Hospice to their responsibility as required.
Drive contract renewal and renegotiation activity, ensuring continuity of supply and the achievement of best value.
Identify and mitigate contractual risk, working closely with the Finance team and, where appropriate, external advisors.
Manage supplier relationships at a strategic level, acting as the principal point of escalation for contract disputes and service failures.
Ensure all contracts comply with relevant legislation, Charity Commission requirements and internal governance policies.
3. Vantage Contract Management System
Maintain and develop the hospice's use of Vantage as a single source of truth for all contractual commitments.
Manage automated alerts, renewal notifications and reporting configurations within Vantage.
Continuously improve the hospice's use of Vantage for contract management, leveraging system functionality to drive efficiency and compliance
4. Strategic Contribution
Support the development of the hospice's annual procurement plan, aligned to organisational priorities and the financial plan.
Contribute to value for money reviews and support the hospice in demonstrating accountability to funders, trustees and regulators.
Keep abreast of developments in charity and public sector procurement best practice and advise on their applicability to Willen Hospice.
Represent the procurement function at relevant internal and external forums.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Proven experience in procurement or purchasing within a healthcare, charity or similar environment. Experience of contract management, service agreements and supplier reviews. Understands a range of work procedures, including the use of multiple equipment and stock procurement pathways. Understanding of health and safety standards relating to stock storage and handling.
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.
Employer details Employer name Willen Hospice
Address Milton Road
Willen Village
Milton Keynes
MK15 9AB
Employer's website https://www.willen-hospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)