About this role
Job summary
Band 8d (subject to confirmation)
We are seeking an ambitious, commercially astute Deputy Director to provide senior leadership across procurement, contracting, contract management, business development and commercial governance.
As deputy to the Director, you will turn strategy into delivery, lead complex commercial activity and help develop a modern, responsive and high-performing function. You will oversee procurement pipelines, negotiations, strategic supplier relationships, commercial risk, change control and assurance, including a significant commercial leadership role supporting NOVA.
You will build strong relationships across the Trust and with NHS partners, commissioners, advisers and suppliers, while developing team capability and creating a supportive, inclusive and high-performing commercial culture.
You will bring substantial senior experience in procurement, contracting and commercial services, including complex procurement, negotiations, governance, risk and leadership of professional teams. MCIPS or equivalent experience is required.
We are looking for someone who combines sound judgement and commercial credibility with the confidence to challenge, develop others and turn complex issues into action.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Director of Contracting, Business Development and Procurement will provide senior leadership and operational management for the Trust's integrated commercial function, encompassing procurement, contracting and contract management, business development, and commercial governance.
About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
- Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will act as deputy to the Director of Contracting, Business Development and Procurement, providing leadership and continuity across the directorate and deputising for the Director as required.
The role will translate the Trust's commercial strategy into operational delivery, ensuring that teams, resources and priorities are effectively managed; procurement and contracting activity is compliant and commercially robust; commercial opportunities are appropriately assessed; and the Trust has effective assurance over its commercial activities.
The postholder will have a significant leadership role in the NOVA programme, providing senior commercial oversight of relevant contracts, procurement, supplier relationships, commercial risk, change control and assurance.
The postholder will ensure the Directorate operates as a coordinated, high-performing function with clear priorities, effective workforce planning, appropriate controls, measurable performance and a strong focus on value for money.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Development
Essential
- Degree-level education with MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification; Master's degree or equivalent knowledge/experience; relevant continuing professional development; relevant postgraduate and project/programme management qualifications
Senior Leadership & People Management
Essential
- Substantial senior leadership experience in procurement, contracting, commercial services or a comparable discipline in a large complex organisation, including managing multidisciplinary teams and senior managers, developing people and organisational capability
Strategic Procurement
Essential
- Extensive strategic procurement experience covering complex, high-value and/or high-risk procurement, with expert knowledge of strategic procurement, public-sector procurement requirements, the Provider Selection Regime and Procurement Act
Contract, Commercial & Supplier Management
Essential
- Extensive experience and expert knowledge of complex contract management, commercial negotiation and strategically significant supplier relationship management
Governance, Assurance & Risk
Essential
- Experience establishing governance, assurance and commercial control frameworks, together with strong commercial and contractual risk management knowledge and experience
Strategic Management & Executive Advice
Essential
- Experience providing authoritative advice to Executive Directors and senior governance forums, managing competing priorities and deploying resources across a complex portfolio
Value, Efficiency & Improvement
Essential
- Evidence of delivering efficiencies, value for money and measurable improvements
NHS Commercial & Commissioning Experience
Essential
- Senior NHS commercial/procurement experience, including provider tenders, commissioning environments, NHS provider and commissioning arrangements, governance and financial controls
Business Development & Collaborative Working
Essential
- Knowledge of business development and bid governance methodologies, with experience working collaboratively across organisational and professional boundaries
Leadership Qualities, Values & Mobility
Essential
- Credible and commercially astute senior leader who can balance pace, compliance, risk and value; decisive, accountable, resilient and calm under pressure; demonstrates professional integrity and EPUT values; able to travel across Trust sites
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Lodge
Wickford
SS11 7XX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)