Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly experienced and commercially astute leader to join NELFT as Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). This post is being advertised with a short deadline due to the urgency of needing a senior experienced procurement professional in post as a result of internal promotion.Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will provide strategic leadership for procurement and commercial services across NELFT and partner Trusts. This pivotal role will build on the success of the North East London Health and Care Procurement Partnership (NEL HCPP), driving innovation, efficiency, and value in procurement to deliver excellent patient outcomes, particularly across mental health and community services.
interview - Week commencing 13th October 2025
Main duties of the job
Lead the development and delivery of a 5-year procurement and commercial strategy, aligned to Trust and national priorities.
Oversee procurement, supply chain and contract management functions across partner Trusts.
Deliver sustainable cost improvements, cash-releasing savings, and innovative commercial solutions.
Act as a centre of procurement excellence, building strong relationships with ICS partners, national and regional stakeholders, and suppliers.
Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing, multi-skilled team with a culture of continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with NHS and public sector procurement law, policy, and governance frameworks.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
For further details, please contact Pav Devsi - pavanjit.devsi@nelft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
For further details, please contact Pav Devsi - pavanjit.devsi@nelft.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrated successfully working at a significantly senior Procurement level within the NHS.
- Substantial experience of reporting to and working with Executive and Board level committees, forums and meetings
- Successfully delivered high value change and transformation programmes as well as providing professional and strategic leadership to the Procurement department.
- Ability to interpret national and local policy drivers where no guidance is available. Establish and maintain strong networks with national and regional policy influencers.
- Substantial experience of planning and implementing long- term strategic plans that affects multiple organisations in an environment of uncertainty. Evidence of significant influence to corporate strategy.
- Experience of establishing, negotiating and finalising highly strategic contracts with consultants and suppliers, and the management of highly complex commercial relationships.
- Subject Matter Expert in Procurement and Supply Chain issues with substantial experience of strong stakeholder management both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Expert analytical & problem solving skills with the ability to make decisions by determining key points from highly complex data and multiple information strands.
- Excellent leadership and staff development skills.
- Significant experience of coaching and mentoring to members
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, using a range of media.
- Demonstrate a commitment to partnership working with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to lead and direct multi- professional teams to deliver objectives to a high standard.
- Ability to influence staff at all levels and disciplines.
- To be personally motivated and to be able to motivate and enthuse others.
- Ability to analyse problems logically and generate innovative solutions.
- Ability to convert strategy into operational delivery.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload and deliver to tight timescales
- Customer Service Awareness.
- High level of IT skills and good working knowledge and application of various MS packages.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of Legislation in respect of Procurement
- Specialist knowledge of public sector procurement
- Substantial experience and training in contract & category research and source planning
- Expert knowledge and experience of how business case development and approvals add value to the procurement function and inform investment decisions.
- Specialist knowledge of contract law
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of Supply Chain & Commercial Development
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant first degree or equivalent relevant vocational qualification or training
- Qualified Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) or equivalent demonstrable experience
- In-depth professional knowledge gained through master's level qualification or equivalent, plus substantial degree of additional training and experience (across all functions managed
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development; post education learning, or post graduate equivalent accreditation
Desirable
- Project / Change Management qualification
- Management qualification
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values
- To be able to travel effectively throughout the Trust
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrated successfully working at a significantly senior Procurement level within the NHS.
- Substantial experience of reporting to and working with Executive and Board level committees, forums and meetings
- Successfully delivered high value change and transformation programmes as well as providing professional and strategic leadership to the Procurement department.
- Ability to interpret national and local policy drivers where no guidance is available. Establish and maintain strong networks with national and regional policy influencers.
- Substantial experience of planning and implementing long- term strategic plans that affects multiple organisations in an environment of uncertainty. Evidence of significant influence to corporate strategy.
- Experience of establishing, negotiating and finalising highly strategic contracts with consultants and suppliers, and the management of highly complex commercial relationships.
- Subject Matter Expert in Procurement and Supply Chain issues with substantial experience of strong stakeholder management both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Expert analytical & problem solving skills with the ability to make decisions by determining key points from highly complex data and multiple information strands.
- Excellent leadership and staff development skills.
- Significant experience of coaching and mentoring to members
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, using a range of media.
- Demonstrate a commitment to partnership working with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to lead and direct multi- professional teams to deliver objectives to a high standard.
- Ability to influence staff at all levels and disciplines.
- To be personally motivated and to be able to motivate and enthuse others.
- Ability to analyse problems logically and generate innovative solutions.
- Ability to convert strategy into operational delivery.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload and deliver to tight timescales
- Customer Service Awareness.
- High level of IT skills and good working knowledge and application of various MS packages.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of Legislation in respect of Procurement
- Specialist knowledge of public sector procurement
- Substantial experience and training in contract & category research and source planning
- Expert knowledge and experience of how business case development and approvals add value to the procurement function and inform investment decisions.
- Specialist knowledge of contract law
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge of Supply Chain & Commercial Development
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant first degree or equivalent relevant vocational qualification or training
- Qualified Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) or equivalent demonstrable experience
- In-depth professional knowledge gained through master's level qualification or equivalent, plus substantial degree of additional training and experience (across all functions managed
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development; post education learning, or post graduate equivalent accreditation
Desirable
- Project / Change Management qualification
- Management qualification
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values
- To be able to travel effectively throughout the Trust
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
