Head of Supply Chain

Castlefield Recruitment are partnering with Amy Chima, Chief Procurement Officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to recruit a Head of Supply Chain.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest acute Trusts in the UK, hosting more than 1.5 million outpatient appointments, A&E visits and surgery cases each year from seven hospital sites across: Brighton, Chichester, Worthing, Shoreham and Haywards Heath.

It holds responsibility for all district general acute services for patients across Brighton and Hove, West Sussex, Mid Sussex, parts of East Sussex and provides the major trauma centre for the Southeast. The Trust also provides specialised and tertiary services across Sussex and parts of the Southeast, including neuroscience, arterial vascular surgery, neonatology, specialised paediatric, cardiac, cancer, renal, infectious diseases and HIV medicine services.

The role would suit someone with a strong background in leadership of materials management and logistics functions within regulated environments, committed to maintaining critical service levels that contribute meaningfully to enhanced patient care.

The Role:

• Lead, develop and manage the Supplies Teams across all sites and the Procurement Systems team, building a collaborative working environment and a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including in sensitive or high-stakes situations, delivering complex or challenging messages to Executive and Trust Directors, as well as senior clinical and operational leaders
• Analyse Procurement and Supply Chain data to identify trends to support the development of the service and inform future procurement activity, including increasing contract and catalogue coverage
• Actively advocate for procurement best practices both within and outside the organisation, raising the visibility and strategic importance of procurement across the Trust
• Offer specialist advice on procurement logistics, regulatory compliance, and procurement elements of the Standing Financial Instructions; regularly review and update internal policies to ensure alignment with current standards and regulations
• Prepare and present supply chain reports tailored to internal bodies such as the Finance and Performance Committee and Trust Management Board, as well as external stakeholders including NHS England and the Sussex Health and Care Partnership Integrated Care System.

The Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave in addition to Public Holidays, rising to 33 days with years of service
• Pension - automatic enrolment (with option to opt-out) in the NHS Pension Scheme subject to meeting scheme qualifying criteria.
• Ill-health, life assurance and family benefits
• Hybrid working available - with an ability to work from home 1-2 days per week
• Mental wellbeing support networks, for example Employee Assistance helplines, Counselling Services and dedicated Staff Lounges
• Physical wellbeing classes, for example mobility resources and the NHS Fitness Studio
• Financial wellbeing, for example car lease, bus pass and Cycle to Work schemes

The Person:

• Senior leadership experience including transformational change in Supply Chain Operations and Logistics, previous NHS experience is desirable
• Solid understanding of the full life cycle of supply chains and materials management
• Previous experience managing staff, preferably across multiple sites, as well as working in a fast-paced environment
• Communicates clearly and persuasively across all formats, including written reports, verbal discussions, and formal presentations Knowledge and understanding of electronic procurement systems and development
• MCIPS or qualification/professional development in a relevant field e.g. master’s degree in supply chain & Logistics

For more information on the role or how to apply please click the link the access the candidate pack:

https://www.microsite-castlefieldrecruitment.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Head-of-Supply-Chain-4.pdf 

Please note that direct approaches and speculative CVs will be directed to Castlefield Recruitment to be included in the recruitment process.