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Project management and procurement

Working life

As a project manager or manager of procurement, you will play a vital role in ensuring that development programmes meet their objectives for providing care.

You could be working with private-sector suppliers to provide services such as information technology

You’ll work with a variety of staff including colleagues from within the NHS including project managers, purchasing and contract managers, estates and facilities managers, finance managers and a broad range of external suppliers.

Roles in project management and procurement 

This area of management will include staff working on a broad range of projects within healthcare, with a variety of job roles and job titles. Here are some examples.

• Project director - major capital schemes    
• Cardiac information project manager
• Project management and implementation - IT project/liaison manager 

Project director - major capital schemes            

You could be managing the development of extensive new facilities within the forensic services directorate of a high security hospital.

You’d be expected to:

• lead and motivate various multi-disciplinary teams, professional advisors, project managers and estates capital support staff
• ensure adequate control mechanisms are in place in terms of cost, time and quality for the project
• provide regular briefings to the chief executive, trust board and forensic service management team(s) in order to ensure that the aims of the service and clinical strategies are fully met.

Cardiac information project manager

Working within a hospitals NHS trust, this example role would be crucial to facilitating the development of information management and technology (IM&T) in support of cardiac care.

Project management and implementation - IT project/liaison manager 

This role would involve working closely with staff at a local NHS acute trust. You’d either directly manage the project or be involved with information, communication and technology (ICT) projects, seeking to understand the business objectives of the organisation and relating them to any local and national ICT solutions.

Want to learn more?

• Find out more about the entry requirements, skills and interests required to enter a career in project management and procurement
• Find out more about the training you’ll receive for a career in project management and procurement

• Pay and conditions

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  Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales.  This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern.

  Your career in NHS management would typically start at Agenda for Change Band 6 or 7, with some positions at Band 5, and the most senior roles rising to Band 9 for example, as a professional manager for a clinical or technical service. In the most senior roles, you may be on a very senior manager salary.

  Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.

• Where the role can lead

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  With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for more senior managerial roles. Progression for those with ability is typically via operational management in a large hospital or other healthcare organisation. Relocation for promotion is common.

  More diverse routes are now opening up, for example, jointly-funded posts between health and social services.

• Job market and vacancies

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  When you’re looking for managerial jobs or apprenticeship vacancies, there are a number of sources you can use, depending on the type of and level of work you’re seeking.

  Check vacancies carefully to be sure you can meet the requirements of the person specification before applying and to find out what the application process is. You may need to apply online or send a C.V. for example.

  Key sources relevant to vacancies in the health sector:

  • vacancies in organisations delivering NHS healthcare can be found on the NHS Jobs website
  • opportunities in the Civil Service can be found on the Civil Service Jobs website
  • vacancies in local government can be found on the Local Government Jobs website and the Jobs Go Public website
  • vacancies for apprenticeships appear on the Gov.uk website
  • vacancies for traineeships appear on the Gov.uk website

  As well as these sources, you may find suitable vacancies in the health sector by contacting local employers directly, searching in local newspapers and by using the Universal Jobmatch tool.

  Find out more about applications and interviews

  Volunteering is an excellent way of gaining experience (especially if you don’t have enough for a specific paid job you’re interested in) and also seeing whether you’re suited to a particular type of work. It’s also a great way to boost your confidence and you can give something back to the community!

  Find out more about volunteering and gaining experience

• Further information

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  For further information about a career in project management and procurement, please contact

  • Association for Project Management