Procurement Specialist
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proactive Procurement Specialist to join the Medicines Manufacturing Centre (MMC)--a cutting-edge NHS pharmaceutical production facility based in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. The MMC is in its final design stages. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a pioneering NHS manufacturing facility, supporting a leadership team committed to quality, innovation, and patient care.
All employees of the Medicine Manufacturing Centre (MMC) are currently employed by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions. Should the service be transferred into alternative ownership, those employees with start dates prior to the transfer date, will be protected under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE).
Therefore, employees will transfer to the new employer on the same terms and conditions, which are protected and the employees' continuity of employment is preserved. Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.
Main duties of the job
To support procurement and sourcing activities within a GMP-compliant medicines manufacturing facility, ensuring the timely and cost-effective supply of goods and services. The primary focus of the role is procurement sourcing, supplier management, and contract compliance. The post holder will work flexibly across customer service, procurement, supply chain and administration functions to support service continuity, providing cross-cover where required while maintaining clear accountability for their core area of responsibility.
About us
The Medicines Manufacturing Centre (MMC) is a brand-new, purpose-built NHS pharmaceutical production facility located at the Northumbria Innovation and Manufacturing Hub in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland.
This cutting-edge centre is part of the North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative and has been established to meet the growing need for high-quality, regionally manufactured Ready-to-Administer (RtA) medicines and advanced aseptic products.
Funded with £30 million of investment from NHS England, the MMC will support a secure, sustainable supply chain for critical medicines, particularly for oncology and other high-risk therapies, while creating skilled jobs and driving innovation across the region.
The facility is designed to operate under a Manufacturer's Specials Licence (MS) and aims to secure a Wholesale Dealer's Authorisation (WDA(H)), ensuring compliance with MHRA, GMP, and GDP regulations from day one. At the MMC, quality, patient safety, and staff wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.
Our leadership team is committed to building a culture of openness, learning, and continuous improvement--offering staff a rare opportunity to help shape the systems, teams, and values of a truly modern NHS manufacturing unit. Working at the MMC means being part of a forward-thinking and supportive team focused on enabling frontline clinical staff to spend more time with patients by delivering safe, ready-to-use medicines.
Job responsibilities
Support sourcing exercises, quotation processes, supplier evaluations and market assessments in line with policies.
Lead procurement of materials, consumables, equipment, and services Raise and manage purchase orders in line with policy and procedures Ensure compliance with NHS procurement regulations and GMP requirements Contribute to continuity planning and mitigation of supply shortages Support supplier onboarding and new product introduction (NPI) processes Monitor supplier performance, delivery performance, and supply risks Ensure procurement activities comply with GMP, NHS procurement regulations, and internal policies Support contract management, including tracking service levels and performance metrics Undertake market analysis and benchmarking to support value-for-money decisions.
Act as the primary point of contact for supplier performance, commercial queries and procurement-related issues. Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships to support quality, cost and continuity objectives and resolve supply issues.
Escalate supplier performance concerns and support corrective action planning Work collaboratively across customer service, supply chain, procurement and admin support functions to support continuity of service
Person Specification
Qualifications · Essential
Degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, logistics, or related field
Desirable
CIPS/CILT Level 4/5 Experience and knowledge
Essential
Experience in supply chain or operational environment
Desirable
NHS or manufacturing experience Experience of ERP or procurement systems Knowledge of or experience in coaching and mentoring practices and tools Knowledge of or experience in Quality improvement tools, techniques and methods
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
