Are you an experienced procurement professional looking for your next challenge in healthcare? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your expertise can deliver real value and make a tangible difference? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented Contracts Buyer to join our team.
This is a pivotal role within the Procurement Department, supporting the Hospital's commitment to delivering high-quality patient care through effective procurement and contract management. You will be responsible for sourcing goods and services that provide the best possible value while maintaining the highest standards of quality, compliance, and service delivery. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will help ensure that procurement activity supports both operational requirements and strategic objectives.
About us
At Benenden Hospital we put patients at the heart of everything we do. We attract kind, compassionate, and talented people to our ultra-modern private hospital, which opened in 1907 and has been rated as Outstanding by the CQC. We hold JAG accreditation for Endoscopy and have a beautiful setting in the middle of the Kent countryside.
Benenden Hospital offers excellent working conditions and facilities. We promote flexible working and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to professional development and have excellent training and education facilities. We work hard to make sure that everyone at Benenden Hospital feels involved and shares our values and vision for the future.
About the role
As Contracts Buyer, you will lead end-to-end tendering and quotation exercises, managing the entire procurement process from initial engagement through to contract award and implementation. You will play a key role in maintaining the Hospital's contract management platform and supporting the management of the contract register, ensuring that contractual obligations, key dates, and performance measures are effectively monitored and managed.
You will develop effective sourcing strategies, identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency, and contribute directly to the achievement of departmental savings targets. In addition, you will provide expert procurement advice to stakeholders across the organisation, helping budget holders and managers make informed purchasing decisions while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures.
Building strong relationships will be at the heart of your success. You will work closely with clinicians, operational teams, suppliers, and senior stakeholders, using your excellent communication and negotiation skills to achieve positive outcomes. You will also support the development of procurement capability across the Hospital by delivering training on purchasing processes and procurement systems, helping colleagues understand and follow best practice.
Skills and experience required
We are looking for a motivated and highly organised procurement professional with at least two years' experience working within a hospital or healthcare procurement environment. You will have a strong understanding of procurement principles, contract management, tendering processes, and commercial best practice. CIPS qualification, or active progression towards a professional procurement qualification, is essential.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, challenge performance, and influence decision-making. You will be confident managing multiple priorities, leading projects to successful completion, and navigating complex stakeholder environments. Experience of contract management systems, risk management principles, and delivering measurable procurement outcomes will be highly advantageous.
In return, you will have the opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation where procurement is recognised as a strategic function that supports exceptional healthcare delivery. You will work alongside a supportive team of professionals, gain exposure to a diverse range of procurement activities, and have the opportunity to develop your career while contributing to meaningful and rewarding work.
If you are passionate about procurement excellence, committed to continuous improvement, and eager to make a real impact within a healthcare setting, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits include
- Competitive salaries
- 27 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
- Defined contribution pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%
- Membership to Benenden Health which offers a wide range of benefits, discounts and activities
- Excellent Life Assurance benefit
- Free parking
- Subsidised eye tests
- Free Flu vaccinations
- Subsidised on site Restaurant
“I love working at Benenden Hospital, it’s a beautiful location in the countryside”, “the whole organisation is supportive”, “it’s the team, the team are amazing”, “Benenden is a bit like a family”, “the whole atmosphere is brilliant”
These are just some of the reasons why more than 400 people work at Benenden Hospital which has a long history of caring since it was founded in 1907.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this position, please complete and submit our application form with your CV attached.
Please note this vacancy may close prior to the closing date without notice, if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Closing Date: 25 August 2026
A member of the HR team will be in contact after the vacancy closes.
If you have further questions please email kentcareers@benenden.org.uk
Together, we work hard to maintain a safe, comfortable, patient-focused environment for the people in our care.
All our vacancies are therefore subject to either a Standard or an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service as well as satisfactory reference checks. These procedures need to be completed before all new member of staff can join the hospital.
Full right to work in the UK is required as we do not offer sponsorship as an organisation
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we have implemented a Privacy Notice to inform you, as prospective employees of Benenden Hospital, of the types of data we process about you. Please visit our Careers page to read our Privacy Notice
We’re committed to providing good quality, compassionate care. Everyone who works with us plays an important role in supporting this, whether patient‑facing or not, and we value the experience, behaviours, and perspectives our people bring.
We’re an inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. This includes people with disabilities, people from all gender identities, individuals from all ethnic backgrounds, and those who are neurodivergent.
We actively encourage applications from groups that may be under‑represented within our workforce.
We want to understand why you want to work in a hospital environment and how your knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experience align with the role you’re applying for, and how they support a caring and respectful culture. These qualities are best shown through your own experience rather than AI‑generated content. While AI tools may be used for general support, we ask that applications are written in your own words and reflect your true abilities and values.
Taking the time to complete your application carefully and honestly helps us understand your suitability for the role and ensures a fair, open, and values‑based recruitment process.