Senior procurement officer

Band 6 · Procurement officer · 422 job evaluation points

Leads complex procurements, such as clinical systems, cloud services, and technology services, and advises on the right route to market, working with broad freedom within procurement policy.

Responsibilities

Lead complex and high-value procurements, choosing the right route to market and procedure.
Lead early market engagement and requests for information, keeping competition fair.
Design evaluation criteria and weightings with technical, clinical, and information governance leads, and lead moderation.
Make sure contracts for technology include interoperability, security, data ownership, exit, and data return terms.
Negotiate with bidders where the procedure allows it, and agree final terms.
Advise on contract changes, extensions, and direct awards, and the risk of challenge.
Coach and check the work of procurement officers and buyers.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Procurement processThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: plan and lead complex tenders, choosing the right route to market and procedure help users write outcome-based specifications for digital and clinical systems manage timetables, risks, and stakeholders through to contract award
Tender evaluationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design evaluation criteria, weightings, and scoring guidance lead moderation and write award reports and feedback to bidders plan demonstrations and clinical or user scenario testing for system tenders
Public procurement rules and policyThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: advise on the lawful route for complex procurements and contract changes manage the risk of challenge and handle standstill and debrief correctly write procurement policy and guidance for the organisation
Technology and cloud procurementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: buy cloud, software as a service, and clinical systems, choosing the right commercial model build requirements with technical, clinical safety, and information governance leads include interoperability, open standards, data ownership, and exit terms in contracts avoid lock-in by planning for portability and competition at renewal
Market analysis and engagementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: analyse a supply market, its competition, risks, and trends lead early market engagement, such as supplier days, without distorting competition use market evidence to shape requirements and commercial models
Commercial negotiationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: plan and lead negotiations, setting objectives, limits, and fallback positions negotiate contract variations, renewals, and settlement of disputes keep negotiations lawful and well recorded
Social value and sustainable procurementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: set social value and sustainability criteria that fit the contract manage supplier commitments, such as local jobs, skills, and carbon reduction check supply chains for risks such as forced labour and other human rights abuses
Creating value for moneyUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: advocate for user needs, ensuring user value is balanced against cost and value for the organisation determine the benefit of a product and persuade others it's the right product to use write or contribute to business cases communicate business-value propositions help others make value-based decisions, influencing the direction of development
Stakeholder relationship managementUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: work with the team to develop and maintain an understanding of stakeholders work with the team to develop and implement stakeholder communications strategies identify and resolve issues, influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders
People managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: supervise day-to-day work and give feedback take part in recruitment and induction hold regular one-to-one conversations

Typical qualifications and experience

A recognised procurement professional qualification at advanced level, or equivalent experience.
Substantial experience of leading complex tenders, ideally for technology or clinical systems.

Band 6 outline

Knowledge: Specialist knowledge across a range of procedures, built through further training or experience.
Autonomy: Works independently; interprets policy for own area; seeks advice on complex issues.
Scope: A product, service, or workstream.
Leadership: May lead a small team or mentor colleagues.
Accountability: Outcomes of own workstream and quality of advice given.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	4	Gives complex, sensitive, or contentious information needing persuasion, negotiation, or training skills, or highly complex information.	32
Knowledge, training, and experience	6	Specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (postgraduate diploma level or equivalent).	156
Analytical and judgemental skills	4	Judgements on complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	42
Planning and organisational skills	3	Plans several complex activities, adjusting plans as needed.	27
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	3	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes that affect other areas.	21
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorises payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
Responsibility for people	2	Supervises or coordinates staff day to day, trains others regularly, or gives basic HR advice.	12
Responsibility for information resources	3	Takes formal minutes, regularly writes reports or queries, or maintains information systems as a significant duty.	16
Responsibility for research and development	1	Carries out surveys or audits for own work; occasionally takes part in research or testing.	5
Freedom to act	4	Results are defined, but the job holder decides how to achieve them, within broad policy.	32
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 6: 396 to 465)			422