Strategic Supplier Manager
Job summary
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NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) plays a unique role in saving and improving lives across the UK. We are looking for an experienced Strategic Supplier Manager to lead the management of key technology supplier relationships, ensuring that contracts deliver excellent service, value for money and support our strategic objectives.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a complex and evolving technology environment, influencing commercial decisions, driving supplier performance and supporting the delivery of critical digital services. You will work closely with technical teams, senior stakeholders and external suppliers, helping to shape commercial strategies and ensure NHSBT continues to receive high-quality, cost-effective ICT services.
About us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Strategic Supplier Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing supplier relationships and ensuring contracts support NHSBT's operational and strategic objectives. Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing supplier performance to ensure contractual obligations, service levels and value-for-money requirements are achieved.
- Developing effective relationships with suppliers and ensuring alignment with NHSBT's strategic direction.
- Supporting procurement, tendering and contract renewal activities to ensure new services are fit for purpose and transition successfully into operational use.
- Analysing complex commercial, contractual and performance data to support informed decision-making and service improvement.
- Undertaking benchmarking and market analysis activities to identify opportunities and maximise value for money.
- Providing expert commercial advice, guidance and training to managers involved in the procurement and management of ICT products and services.
- Producing reports, presentations and recommendations for senior stakeholders, including Senior Management Teams and Board-level audiences.
- Acting as a key link between suppliers, service managers and service users to support effective supplier governance and continuous improvement.
You may be required to travel and spend time away from base to meet the requirements of the role, with appropriate prior notice.
What we offer:
- Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re 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. We’re 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 - we’ve 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. It’s 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:
- Read about our application process
- Learn more about our culture at NHSBT
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next stepsThis vacancy will close at 23:59pm on Monday 5th October 2026 however this vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of applications.
Interviews are anticipated to be held on 19th October 2026– subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: John Lambert
Job Title:Senior Strategic Supplier Manager
Contact Details: Email – john.lambert@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
- Specialist knowledge, expertise or qualifications at postgraduate diploma level, or equivalent experience, in commercial management, purchasing, accounting, business management or a related discipline.
- Demonstrable commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Experience
- Significant experience of commercial management disciplines including contract negotiation, contract review, pricing models and supplier management.
- Significant experience of working alongside highly technical teams and translating technical requirements into effective commercial solutions.
- Knowledge and experience of benchmarking activities to demonstrate value for money.
- Experience of reporting to Senior Management Teams.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and negotiation skills with the ability to influence and build confidence across a range of audiences.
- Proven analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex situations, interpret data and make sound judgements.
- Ability to think strategically, challenge existing practices and contribute to long-term organisational objectives.
- Proven track record of improving supplier performance to deliver business benefits.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
NHS Blood and Transplant
Address
NHSBT - Filton
500 North Bristol Park
Filton
Bristol
BS34 7QH
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/