Head of Procurement

Shape the future of procurement at one of the UK's leading independent hospitals.

Are you an experienced procurement leader looking for an opportunity to make a real impact? Do you have the commercial expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to drive value while supporting exceptional patient care?

At Benenden Hospital, we're seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Head of Procurement to lead our procurement function and play a key role in delivering our strategic objectives. This is an exciting opportunity to influence organisational success, build strong supplier partnerships, and ensure that our procurement practices support both operational excellence and outstanding patient outcomes.

This role is primarily hospital-based, enabling close collaboration with clinical and operational teams. However, we recognise the benefits of flexibility and will consider a degree of home working where service needs allow.

We know that great Heads of Procurement bring different strengths, experiences and perspectives. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including people who are neurodivergent.

We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and working environment. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or throughout your employment, we'll work with you to provide the support you need to thrive.

About us

At Benenden Hospital we put patients at the heart of everything we do. We attract kind, compassionate, and talented people to our ultra-modern private hospital, which opened in 1907 and has been rated as Outstanding by the CQC. We hold JAG accreditation for Endoscopy and have a beautiful setting in the middle of the Kent countryside.

Benenden Hospital offers excellent working conditions and facilities. We promote flexible working and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to professional development and have excellent training and education facilities. We work hard to make sure that everyone at Benenden Hospital feels involved and shares our values and vision for the future.

About the role

Reporting to a Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for all procurement activities across the hospital. You will lead the development and delivery of a forward-thinking procurement strategy, ensuring the organisation achieves best value while maintaining the highest standards of quality, governance, and compliance.

Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise supplier performance, and support the Hospital's continued growth and success.

You will oversee all procurement activity, driving value, quality and cost efficiencies across the organisation; build and manage strategic supplier relationships, negotiating high-value contracts and securing optimal commercial outcomes; implement and maintain robust procurement policies, governance arrangements and performance frameworks; provide expert commercial and procurement advice to support strategic decision-making and budget planning; and lead, develop and inspire the procurement team to deliver a high-performing, customer-focused service.

You will also be responsible for supplier performance management, contract compliance and risk management, ensuring procurement practices remain effective, sustainable and aligned with organisational objectives. This role offers the opportunity to make a visible difference across the organisation while leading a dedicated procurement team and influencing decision-making at a senior level.

Skills and experience required

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach. You will be a confident leader, capable of building strong relationships and influencing stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.

You will bring

• Significant procurement leadership experience within a hospital, healthcare, or similarly regulated environment.
• A proven track record of delivering measurable financial savings and commercial value.
• Experience leading and developing a procurement or purchasing function.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing complex tender processes and high-value contracts.
• A strong understanding of procurement governance, compliance, and supplier performance management.
• MCIPS qualification (or equivalent experience) desirable.
• Demonstrable proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and procurement systems, with the ability to analyse data, produce reports, and use technology effectively to support decision-making and service delivery.

Benefits include

• Competitive salaries
• 27 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Defined contribution pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%
• Membership to Benenden Health which offers a wide range of benefits, discounts and activities
• Excellent Life Assurance benefit
• Free parking
• Subsidised eye tests
• Free Flu vaccinations
• Subsidised on site Restaurant

“I love working at Benenden Hospital, it’s a beautiful location in the countryside”, “the whole organisation is supportive”, “it’s the team, the team are amazing”, “Benenden is a bit like a family”, “the whole atmosphere is brilliant”

These are just some of the reasons why more than 400 people work at Benenden Hospital which has a long history of caring since it was founded in 1907.