Job Advert
About the Organisation:
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.
National Procurement is a Directorate of NSS and operates across 4 sites in Scotland providing procurement, logistics and supply chain solutions for NHS Scotland and the wider public sector.
National Procurement also operates as one of the five Procurement Centers of Excellence across the entire Public Sector in Scotland, providing commercial and technical guidance, advice and expertise to the Health and Social Care sector, primarily to NHSS Hospital and community services.
National Procurement has been front and center of NHS Scotland’s response to the post pandemic recovery, working closely with our Health Boards, the Scottish Government, UK DHSC and other key agencies and strategic suppliers. As a result, our Category teams have been asked to take on wider responsibilities and for new areas of expenditure.
The Post:
National Procurement provide commercial solutions across all areas of expenditure between NHSS and 3rd party providers and our national arrangements cover over 60% of that expenditure. Our teams are focused on delivering innovation and to create sustainable and ethical supply chains for our Health and Social Care services.
The Head of Strategic Sourcing and Commercial (HSSC) role reports to the Director of National Procurement. The successful candidate will be one of two HSSC posts and will direct, mentor and provide technical, commercial and managerial leadership to a portfolio of Category Teams. This will enable our teams to respond to this challenging period and ensure the requirements of our NHS services can be fully met.
The Category Teams scope include all goods and services required across the NHS including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, patient community services, food, building facilities and maintenance, IT systems, general office supplies and equipment, temporary labour, and personal protective equipment.
The Candidate:
You will be professionally accredited, have very strong and senior procurement experience preferably in the public sector, have a proven track record in leading and managing teams and be an excellent communicator with the ability to lead and gain commitment to change across diverse and technically expert stakeholders. This role will ideally be part of your own career development ambitions and allow you to develop and build your senior managerial and strategic operational skills.
Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
NSS Promotes Home Working. National Procurement operates from a Head Office at Canderside near Larkhall and NSS offices at the Gyle, Edinburgh. A base location of either Gyle or Canderside can be selected based on proximity to home location.
The work pattern is Monday to Friday office hours and currently 37 hrs per week reducing to 36 hrs per week in line with the Agenda for Change working hours agreement.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.
Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.
Inclusion:
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further information:
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Gordon Beattie, Director of National Procurement on 07710 835878
Closing date for completed applications is Tuesday 16th September
Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies