Job Description
Commercial Lead
This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work.
Job Summary
As a Commercial Lead, you will play a key role in helping NHS Blood and Transplant deliver greater value for patients, donors and colleagues across the organisation. Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, you will lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities, manage key supplier partnerships, and develop innovative commercial solutions that support high-quality services. You will influence significant organisational spending, identify opportunities for improvement and savings, and help shape commercial strategies that deliver long-term benefits. This is an opportunity to contribute to work that makes a real difference, while leading and developing others, building strong partnerships and driving continuous improvement in a complex and rewarding environment.
Main duties of the job
- Lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities that deliver value, quality and sustainable savings across NHSBT.
- Develop and implement commercial strategies that support organisational priorities and improve services for donors, patients and colleagues.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and partner organisations to achieve shared objectives and positive outcomes.
- Negotiate and manage high-value contracts to secure the best possible commercial, service and quality outcomes.
- Lead, motivate and support a team of commercial professionals, creating opportunities for learning, development and progression.
- Use market, spend and supplier insights to identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Provide expert commercial advice and guidance to support informed decision-making across NHSBT.
- Drive effective supplier relationship management to achieve long-term value and improved performance.
- Lead complex procurement projects and change initiatives that support strategic business objectives.
- Contribute to a culture of compliance, quality and best practice, ensuring commercial activities meet legal and regulatory requirements.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Significant experience leading sourcing and procurement activity across a broad range of categories and services.
- Strong commercial, negotiation and supplier management skills, with a track record of delivering measurable value and savings.
- Proven experience leading, developing and motivating teams within a complex organisational environment.
- Ability to build effective relationships, influence senior stakeholders and present confidently at executive level.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information, manage change and make informed commercial decisions.
Qualifications and Training
- CIPS Level 6 qualification, or equivalent knowledge and experience.
- MSc in Procurement, Business, Economics, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience gained through professional practice.
- Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
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.
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:
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 steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59pm on Wednesday 25th November 2026 however this vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of application.
The assessment process for this role will include: a single interview and an assessment or presentation. Interviews are anticipated to be held on Thursday 3rd December 2026 - subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: Sarah Cawthorne
Job Title: Recruiter
Contact Details: Email – sarah.cawthorne@nhsbt.nhs.uk
