West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 8a - Continuous Improvement Manager, Procurement

The closing date is 28 July 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a Continuous Improvement Specialist which is a highly skilled process manager who utilizes a range of expertise, including project management and leadership, to effectively secure IMS buy-in and support, drive ongoing performance enhancements, and facilitate process development across all relevant areas of responsibility.

Main duties of the job

Identifying opportunities for process improvement, on-site IMS training and, ultimately, cost reduction.

Planning, facilitating, and executing continuous improvement events.

Teaching, leading, and coaching cross-functional teams.

Working to continuously improve processes both on the production floor as well as transactional by collaborating with multiple functions such as logistics.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year inc. HCA

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-IE-10202-A

Job locations

Gate House

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6BP


Job description

Job responsibilities

First Point of Contact for all IMS related problems/issues.

Evaluating and prioritizing potential improvements based on gains and required effort.

Securing employee commitment (ex: process managers) for proactive change management.

Establishing a clear and well-articulated implementation plan.

Establishing criteria for the projects success and preparing a sound statement of constraints/limiting factors.

Appropriately implementing principles of governance.

Resolving technical problems such as formulation, equipment, product, interpretation of regulations, and resource availability.

Identifying intervention priorities and indicators.

Conducting detailed analysis of the current situation that accurately describes the issues.

Specifying deliverables, outcome indicators, and performance-measured indicators.

Identifying available resources (for example, people, material, and finances).

Mapping out in detail the desired situation.

Clearly defining methodology.

Accurately analysing options including impact and feasibility.

Specifying obstacles and ways to overcome them through continuous improvement.

Regularly monitoring the implementation of solutions to achieve objectives and expected benefits.

Job description

Job responsibilities

First Point of Contact for all IMS related problems/issues.

Evaluating and prioritizing potential improvements based on gains and required effort.

Securing employee commitment (ex: process managers) for proactive change management.

Establishing a clear and well-articulated implementation plan.

Establishing criteria for the projects success and preparing a sound statement of constraints/limiting factors.

Appropriately implementing principles of governance.

Resolving technical problems such as formulation, equipment, product, interpretation of regulations, and resource availability.

Identifying intervention priorities and indicators.

Conducting detailed analysis of the current situation that accurately describes the issues.

Specifying deliverables, outcome indicators, and performance-measured indicators.

Identifying available resources (for example, people, material, and finances).

Mapping out in detail the desired situation.

Clearly defining methodology.

Accurately analysing options including impact and feasibility.

Specifying obstacles and ways to overcome them through continuous improvement.

Regularly monitoring the implementation of solutions to achieve objectives and expected benefits.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Postgraduate Commercial Procurement Supply Chain Operations and Transformation related qualification or equivalent qualification and/or experience.
  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
  • Member of a professional body.

Desirable

  • Educational qualification or relevant Experience.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent.
  • Understanding of the healthcare environment and the public sector
  • Knowledge of project principles

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
  • Evidence of continued professional development.
  • Experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.
  • Experience of managing risks and reporting.
  • Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence
  • Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Postgraduate Commercial Procurement Supply Chain Operations and Transformation related qualification or equivalent qualification and/or experience.
  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
  • Member of a professional body.

Desirable

  • Educational qualification or relevant Experience.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent.
  • Understanding of the healthcare environment and the public sector
  • Knowledge of project principles

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
  • Evidence of continued professional development.
  • Experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.
  • Experience of managing risks and reporting.
  • Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence
  • Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.

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).

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.

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

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Gate House

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6BP


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Gate House

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6BP


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Supply Chain

Darren Atkin

darren.atkin@nhs.net

07717130128

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year inc. HCA

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-IE-10202-A

Job locations

Gate House

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6BP


Supporting documents

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