Are you an experienced procurement professional ready to take the lead in delivering a best-in-class procurement function within a leading independent hospital?
Benenden Hospital is seeking a dynamic and commercially astute Head of Procurement to lead and develop our procurement strategy, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective goods and services that support outstanding patient care and operational excellence.
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
Reporting into a Director, you will take overall responsibility for procurement across the Hospital, driving value, efficiency, and compliance. You will develop and implement a forward-thinking procurement strategy aligned to the Hospital’s Strategic Plan and Commercial Vision, while building strong partnerships with both internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, requiring the ability to influence at all levels, deliver measurable savings, and embed best practice procurement processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all procurement activity across the Hospital, ensuring value, quality, and compliance
- Develop and deliver a procurement strategy that supports organisational objectives
- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, negotiating high-value contracts
- Implement robust procurement policies, governance, and performance frameworks
- Drive cost efficiencies and continuous improvement across procurement operations
- Support budget planning and provide expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders
- Lead, develop, and inspire the procurement team
- Oversee supplier performance, risk management, and contract compliance
Skills and experience required
About You
You will be a confident and experienced procurement leader with a strong track record of delivering value within a healthcare or similar regulated environment.
You will bring:
- Proven experience in a procurement role within a hospital or healthcare setting
- Demonstrable leadership of a procurement or purchasing function
- Strong commercial and financial acumen
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and influencing skills
- Experience managing high-value contracts and tender processes
- MCIPS qualification (or equivalent experience) desirable
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 our application form.
Then please send this application form, and your covering letter to kentcareers@benenden.org.uk
A member of the HR team will be in contact once the vacancy closes.
Closing Date: 7 July 2026
Together, we work hard to maintain a safe, comfortable, patient-focused environment for the people in our care.
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.
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.
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.
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 read our Privacy Notice