Job summary
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is looking for a highly motivated Strategic
Relationship Manager (Band 7) to join our Procurement Directorate. This is an
exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping how we work with our
suppliers, ensuring they deliver best in class performance, sustainable value,
and high quality services for our patients and staff.
Working
closely with Procurement, Finance, clinical teams and wider business partners,
you will support the strategic management of a significant contract portfolio
and help drive improvements in service delivery, governance, and supplier
performance. Youll bring strong commercial awareness, excellent communication
skills, and the confidence to influence at all levels.
Were
looking for someone who is collaborative, proactive, and committed to
delivering high quality outcomes in line with The Leeds Way values.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
31/03/2026
Planned Interview
Date
13/04/2026
Main duties of the job
Build and maintain strong working
relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support strategic
goals.
Support the strategic management of
a designated portfolio of Trust contracts, ensuring value for money,
compliance, and high quality service delivery.
Monitor supplier performance
against KPIs and SLAs, identifying risks, resolving issues, and driving
continuous improvement.
Provide commercial and contractual
advice to senior managers, clinical teams, and project groups.
Contribute to the development and
implementation of procurement and contract management strategies across the
Trust.
Analyse contract disputes,
interpret complex information, and support decision making in the Trusts
best interests.
Identify and deliver cost
improvement opportunities, both one off and recurring.
Support policy development,
governance, and adherence to Trust procedures, including Information
Governance and Health & Safety.
Work collaboratively across
departments and with regional partners, including WYAAT, to support shared
objectives and service improvements.
Applicants
must be organised, confident working to tight deadlines, and able to
communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels. Strong analytical
skills, commercial judgement, and a positive, solutions focused approach are
essential.
About us
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and most respected
healthcare providers in the country. Our values, Patient centred,
Collaborative, Fair, Accountable, and Empowered, guide everything we do.As part of the West
Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), we work closely with partners
across the region to improve care, share expertise, and deliver better
outcomes for our communities.
We
offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, with access to:
Staff networks and wellbeing
initiatives
A comprehensive Employee Assistance
Programme
Opportunities for personal and
professional development
Recognition schemes
This
is your opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and help shape how we
work with our suppliers to deliver outstanding care.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
post holder will work closely with Procurement, Finance, and other business
partners in developing and supporting strategies to deliver towards strategic
goals. They will also be expected to demonstrate strong supplier management
skills, excellent commercial awareness and display sound financial acumen.
Additionally,
they will be highly motivated, quality focused and have the ability to
influence at all levels, working in close partnership with senior clinical
and operational colleagues.
In
relation to the Trust supplier contract portfolio they will provide technical
and professional support to senior management across the organisation and
with a wide range of external organisations including other local, regional
and national NHS organisations, legal advisers and supplier organisations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Building
and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external
stakeholders to support strategic goals.
Strategic Planning: Contributing to
the development and implementation of strategies that align with Trust
objectives and improve healthcare outcomes.
Performance Monitoring: Evaluating
the effectiveness of partnerships and initiatives, ensuring they meet agreed
KPI targets and deliver value.
Leadership and Collaboration:
Leading meetings across departments and working collaboratively across
departments to drive strategic projects and initiatives.
Problem Solving: Identifying
challenges and implementing solutions to enhance service delivery and
stakeholder satisfaction.
Compliance and Governance: Ensuring
adherence to NHS policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Knowledge
and experience of procurement IT systems including management information
systems and data capture devices.
Planning
Skills
Strategic
and operational planning of the supplier work plan, implementation and
support service in line with the aims, policies and strategic direction of
the Procurement Team and Trust. Ability to meet tight deadlines.
Analytical
Skills
Analysis
of contract disputes and establishing resolutions in the Trusts interest.
Ability to interpret incomplete information into specifications, user
requirements, project documentation and plans. Ability to scrutinise,
understand and support decisions about Trust contracts as led by the senior
SRM. Ability to analyse, interpret and resolve difficult procurement and
commercial problems where information is incomplete.
Innovation
Generates
innovative suggestions and ideas. Builds on others suggestions and ideas.
Sees new ways of tackling established problems. Adapts existing processes to
improve performance.
Policy
/ Service Development
Support
contract management policies across the Trust. Experience in working within a
commercial and procurement department to help develop, implement and evaluate
policies and strategy. Provide advice and guidance across the Trust on
interpretation of contract matters.
Financial
& Physical Resources
Accountable
to Lead SRM who is responsible for the strategic management of the Trusts
extensive contract portfolio (c. £200M per annum). Strategically manage a
designated portfolio of Trust contracts, both capital and revenue related.
Review contract expenditure against budgets to ensure value for money and
achievement of financial targets. Actively identify and deliver cost
improvement programmes involving both one off and recurring savings. Make
judgements involving facts, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison
of options.
Research
& Development
Awareness
of technology change trends which may impact on the management of supplier
contracts.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
post holder will work closely with Procurement, Finance, and other business
partners in developing and supporting strategies to deliver towards strategic
goals. They will also be expected to demonstrate strong supplier management
skills, excellent commercial awareness and display sound financial acumen.
Additionally,
they will be highly motivated, quality focused and have the ability to
influence at all levels, working in close partnership with senior clinical
and operational colleagues.
In
relation to the Trust supplier contract portfolio they will provide technical
and professional support to senior management across the organisation and
with a wide range of external organisations including other local, regional
and national NHS organisations, legal advisers and supplier organisations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Building
and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external
stakeholders to support strategic goals.
Strategic Planning: Contributing to
the development and implementation of strategies that align with Trust
objectives and improve healthcare outcomes.
Performance Monitoring: Evaluating
the effectiveness of partnerships and initiatives, ensuring they meet agreed
KPI targets and deliver value.
Leadership and Collaboration:
Leading meetings across departments and working collaboratively across
departments to drive strategic projects and initiatives.
Problem Solving: Identifying
challenges and implementing solutions to enhance service delivery and
stakeholder satisfaction.
Compliance and Governance: Ensuring
adherence to NHS policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Knowledge
and experience of procurement IT systems including management information
systems and data capture devices.
Planning
Skills
Strategic
and operational planning of the supplier work plan, implementation and
support service in line with the aims, policies and strategic direction of
the Procurement Team and Trust. Ability to meet tight deadlines.
Analytical
Skills
Analysis
of contract disputes and establishing resolutions in the Trusts interest.
Ability to interpret incomplete information into specifications, user
requirements, project documentation and plans. Ability to scrutinise,
understand and support decisions about Trust contracts as led by the senior
SRM. Ability to analyse, interpret and resolve difficult procurement and
commercial problems where information is incomplete.
Innovation
Generates
innovative suggestions and ideas. Builds on others suggestions and ideas.
Sees new ways of tackling established problems. Adapts existing processes to
improve performance.
Policy
/ Service Development
Support
contract management policies across the Trust. Experience in working within a
commercial and procurement department to help develop, implement and evaluate
policies and strategy. Provide advice and guidance across the Trust on
interpretation of contract matters.
Financial
& Physical Resources
Accountable
to Lead SRM who is responsible for the strategic management of the Trusts
extensive contract portfolio (c. £200M per annum). Strategically manage a
designated portfolio of Trust contracts, both capital and revenue related.
Review contract expenditure against budgets to ensure value for money and
achievement of financial targets. Actively identify and deliver cost
improvement programmes involving both one off and recurring savings. Make
judgements involving facts, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison
of options.
Research
& Development
Awareness
of technology change trends which may impact on the management of supplier
contracts.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a business related discipline or equivalent experience
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- MCIPS or working towards it
- Additional commercial or procurement qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with senior stakeholders to deliver projects or improvements
- Evidence of developing or monitoring savings or value improvement plans
Desirable
- Experience of contract or supplier management
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Strong communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to influence and negotiate with stakeholders
- Experience using data and analysis to support decisions
- Evidence of commercial or procurement expertise
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
- Flexible, proactive, and able to work independently or as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of decision making where no precedent exists
- Understanding of procurement or commercial delivery in an NHS or acute healthcare setting
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a business related discipline or equivalent experience
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- MCIPS or working towards it
- Additional commercial or procurement qualifications
Experience
Essential
- Experience working with senior stakeholders to deliver projects or improvements
- Evidence of developing or monitoring savings or value improvement plans
Desirable
- Experience of contract or supplier management
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Strong communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to influence and negotiate with stakeholders
- Experience using data and analysis to support decisions
- Evidence of commercial or procurement expertise
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
- Flexible, proactive, and able to work independently or as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of decision making where no precedent exists
- Understanding of procurement or commercial delivery in an NHS or acute healthcare setting
