Lead Project Manager

NHS Supply Chain has an opportunity for a Lead Project Manager to join our Supply Chain Modernisation programme during an exciting period of transformation. This role will be pivotal in driving the successful delivery of complex, multi-workstream projects within the programme that underpin our long-term transformation goals and organisational vision.

The programme will impact many parts of the organisation as well as our customers and suppliers. Effective project management is critical to delivering and embedding this transformational change, enabling greater benefits and outcomes for our customers, patients, and the business.

Every day you will …

• Own the successful delivery of complex, high-impact projects within the Supply Chain Modernisation programme, including technology, process, people and cultural changes for customers and colleagues, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and organisational vision.
• Provide direction, working in close partnership with programme managers, project managers, and third-party service providers to define clear objectives and deliver outcomes within agreed time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Ensure that the change impact is front of mind throughout each project, working in collaboration with a change manager, so that the implementation is successful, and outcomes are achieved
• Drive collaboration across NHS Supply Chain and external service providers, ensuring seamless integration and execution of projects that underpin the modernisation agenda.
• Proactively monitor the progress of work-packages within the project, including surfacing capacity, pacing, or resourcing issues and initiating corrective actions as applicable
• Champion best-in-class delivery methodologies, leveraging both Agile and Waterfall approaches as appropriate to optimise performance and adaptability across diverse workstreams.
• Lead and mentor project teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and excellence in delivery.

What can we offer you? 

We want to reward you for your passion, enthusiasm, and hard work so we offer much more than a competitive salary: 

• Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.  
• We recognise our employees’ hard work and contributions with annual bonus schemes, long service, and VIP colleagues’ awards. 
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
• A focus on your well-being, offering 1 day of paid well-being leave and free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous pension scheme (with us contributing 12% when you contribute 6%)
• Access to our Flexible Benefits Scheme, where you can choose from a variety of benefits such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, and additional pension contributions that suit you.
• 2 days of paid volunteering leave, allowing you to give back to your community. 
• Access to many discounts from the Blue Light Card to NHS Discounts.

NHS Supply Chain, who are we? 

Our role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health. We are a part of the NHS family, and our role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.  

We serve every NHS Trust and operate a national network of distribution centres, managing relationships with more than a thousand suppliers and delivering more than 8,000,000 orders each year to more than 17,000 locations. Doing all of this on behalf of the NHS gives NHS staff more time to focus on their main priority of providing excellent patient care.

What skills will help you thrive in this role? 

• Proven track record of delivering complex projects or programmes in a multi-stakeholder environment, ideally within large-scale transformation initiatives.
• Strong leadership and matrix management experience, with the ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams to achieve ambitious goals.
• Deep expertise in project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall) and a solid understanding of change management principles.
• Financial acumen, with experience managing project budgets and cost controls across multiple delivery partners.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., APM, PRINCE2) or equivalent senior-level experience in project and programme delivery.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, capable of operating confidently at all organisational levels, including executive leadership.
• Experience managing third-party vendors and navigating complex contractual relationships (desirable).
• Sector knowledge of healthcare and/or logistics and supply chain operations (desirable). 

Want to develop your career with the NHS Supply Chain? Then apply below or reach out for an informal discussion about the role in confidence by emailing us at Careers@supplychain.nhs.uk 

Our Inclusive Commitment 

At NHS Supply Chain, we are committed to building an inclusive environment where difference is not only valued but celebrated, allowing everyone to thrive in their career. Developing our people is key to our success, so if this role sounds like the right next step in your career, but your experience doesn’t match perfectly with the job advert, we encourage you to still apply.

Struggling to complete our application form, and require additional support? Reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at careers@supplychain.nhs.uk, who will be happy to help you with alternative ways to apply.

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