Senior Commercial Lead

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NHS Blood and Transplant Senior Commercial Lead

The closing date is 15 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

You will lead, manage and be accountable for a Category based Commercial Team with responsibility for a portfolio of supplier contracts and ensure that all resources are focused on delivering sustainable, quality, and innovative commercial solutions, in compliance with legislation.

You will providing professional expertise to formulate, develop and implement long term strategic plans for the categories and contracts managed by the team as well as actively engage and collaborate with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and public sector bodies in support of our commercial strategies and their effectiveness.

You will continuously improve the Commercial service delivered to stakeholders, enhance expertise, and build the capability and potential of the function and take a pivotal role in delivering significant cost improvements in a creative, innovative, and sustained manner to assist us to meet our financial objectives.

Note: This is a national role, requiring travel across England based on business needs. The role offers a hybrid working option. You will be assigned a base location, which could be one of the NHSBT main centres or blood centres. The exact location will be confirmed after the final interview and mutually agreed upon with the line manager during the verbal offer stage.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will support in the delivery of the planning & organisation, day to day operations, financial, quality targets and vision of the Commercial directorate within NHSBT. Your responsibilities will include:

• Strategic sourcing & commercial planning category strategy development, market analysis, and end-to-end procurement delivery.
• Contract & supplier management expertise managing KPIs, SLAs, governance, and full contract lifecycle (award to exit).
• Commercial acumen & financial management cost optimisation, budget oversight, pricing models, and value realisation.
• Stakeholder & supplier relationship management influencing, negotiating, and building strong internal and external partnerships.
• Risk, compliance & governance ensuring regulatory adherence, managing commercial risks, and maintaining audit-ready processes.
• Performance & continuous improvement driving supplier performance, resolving issues, and leading service and operational improvements.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Details

Date posted

03 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

009613

Job locations

NHSBT

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL

United Kingdom

NHSBT

14 Estuary Banks

Speke

L24 8RB

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Holland Drive

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 4NQ

United Kingdom

NHSBT - Tooting

75 Cranmer Terrace

London

SW17 0RB

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Coxford Road

Southampton

SO16 5AF

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Phoenix House

Basildon

SS14 3EZ

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Vincent Drive

Birmingham

B15 2SG

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Capitol Way

Barnsley

S75 3FG

United Kingdom

NHSBT - Colindale

Charcot Road

London

NW9 5BG

United Kingdom

NHSBT

500 North Bristol Park

Filton

BS34 7QH

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

• Hybrid working arrangements because NHSBT works nationally, were able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
• Flexible working options we promote flexible working where the role allows. Were happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
• Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
• Supportive learning culture - weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
• Health and wellbeing support we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process. You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website.

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

• Hybrid working arrangements because NHSBT works nationally, were able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
• Flexible working options we promote flexible working where the role allows. Were happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
• Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
• Supportive learning culture - weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
• Health and wellbeing support we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process. You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website.

To learn more, please see the job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience in a professional purchasing area.
• CIPS Professional Diploma Level 6 or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of Market Shaping, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement Strategy, and Contract Management including negotiation of significant value contracts and/or significant risk contracts, and disputes at a senior level.
• Supply chain management and supplier relationship management experience.
• The ability to lead strategic planning and implementation processes.
• Time Management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience in using electronic sourcing and purchasing systems.
• Change management experience including awareness of impacts on Quality when implementing new contracts.
• Decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and management experience
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience in a professional purchasing area.
• CIPS Professional Diploma Level 6 or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of Market Shaping, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement Strategy, and Contract Management including negotiation of significant value contracts and/or significant risk contracts, and disputes at a senior level.
• Supply chain management and supplier relationship management experience.
• The ability to lead strategic planning and implementation processes.
• Time Management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience in using electronic sourcing and purchasing systems.
• Change management experience including awareness of impacts on Quality when implementing new contracts.
• Decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and management experience
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).

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

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

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Assistant Director - Sourcing & Procurement

Louise Davenhill

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

03 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

009613

Job locations

NHSBT

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL

United Kingdom

NHSBT

14 Estuary Banks

Speke

L24 8RB

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Holland Drive

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 4NQ

United Kingdom

NHSBT - Tooting

75 Cranmer Terrace

London

SW17 0RB

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Coxford Road

Southampton

SO16 5AF

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Phoenix House

Basildon

SS14 3EZ

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Vincent Drive

Birmingham

B15 2SG

United Kingdom

NHSBT

Capitol Way

Barnsley

S75 3FG

United Kingdom

NHSBT - Colindale

Charcot Road

London

NW9 5BG

United Kingdom

NHSBT

500 North Bristol Park

Filton

BS34 7QH

United Kingdom

Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS Blood and Transplant's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

Support links

• Privacy policy
• Terms and conditions
• Accessibility Statement
• Cookies
• Help and guidance

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