NHS Blood and Transplant
Head of Commercial Operations
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Job Summary
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), you will play a key role in transforming our Commercial Function and helping us deliver greater value across the organisation. Working as part of the Commercial Senior Leadership Team, you will lead commercial operations, governance, systems, assurance, and continuous improvement activity. You will shape how we work, influence strategic decision-making, and build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across NHSBT, Government, suppliers and partner organisations. This is an opportunity to use your commercial expertise to drive innovation, develop best practice, and make a lasting impact on an organisation that exists to save and improve lives.
Main Duties of the Job
Responsibilities
In this role, you will play a key role in supporting NHSBT through a major transformation of the Commercial function. Your responsibilities will include:
- Play a key role within the Commercial Senior Leadership Team.
- Lead commercial governance, assurance, policies, processes, and reporting.
- Drive innovation through commercial systems, data, and technology including ATAMIS.
- Build relationships with senior stakeholders across NHSBT, Government, and suppliers.
- Lead category strategies, market intelligence, and commercial planning.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team.
- Ensure governance, compliance, and audit readiness.
- Use data and forecasting to support resource planning and decision-making.
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Significant experience leading procurement or commercial operations within a large, complex organisation.
- Experience operating at a senior leadership level and leading organisational change.
- Strong influencing, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Expert knowledge of commercial governance, category management, and reporting.
- Experience leading high-performing teams and continuous improvement.
- Strong digital and systems capability.
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Qualifications and Training
- Master’s degree or equivalent experience to master’s level and must possess a recognised procurement qualification such as MCIPS or equivalent significant post-qualification experience.
- Evidence of 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
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.
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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 23:59 on 9th August 2026
The assessment process for this role will involve several stages which include a video presentation, a fireside chat with Kester, an ADC assessment, and a final interview. The final interviews are anticipated to take place on 28th September 2026, subject to confirmation. Further details including dates, timings, and arrangements, will be shared with shortlisted candidates closer to the time.
For informal enquiries please contact:
- Name: Helen Murphy
- Job Title: EA to Commercial Director
- Contact Details: Email – helen.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk
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