Assistant Procurement Specialist

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous NHS pension scheme

NHS terms of service and annual leave

Employee benefits platform discounts

Job summary

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is seeking a procurement professional to support end-to-end NHS supply chain services across Hampshire hospitals. You will help develop strategies, manage spend, and negotiate with suppliers to deliver value for money while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

The role emphasizes collaborative working within a multi-site NHS environment, ensuring governance and efficient procurement practices across Trusts.

Qualifications

• Experience of identifying and evaluating value for money.
• Fast paced problem solving both remotely and in person and ability to impart information succinctly.
• Supply chain problem solving and negotiation experience.
• Experience in achieving objectives whilst maintaining good relationships with customers or stakeholders.
• Agile, supportive, trusted, engaged & responsive (values).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies with budget managers and clinicians.
• Review non-pay spend and design value-for-money contracts and cost-effective internal logistics.
• Assist with procurement processes and define projects with managers, clinicians and finance staff.
• Identify and evaluate best value for money and negotiate with suppliers.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure compliant routes to market and to raise the profile of the team.
• Deliver excellent levels of customer service and liaise with stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Support and maintain the catalogue management strategy and cross-team collaboration.

Skills

Value for money

Negotiation

Supply chain

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree level qualification

CIPS qualification ongoing

Experience in similar role

Job description

Job Overview

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Overview

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please note WPL does not hold a Home Office Workers Licence and therefore unable to offer sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.

Working for our organisation

At WPL, we play a key role in supporting the NHS in Hampshire, delivering end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As a wholly owned subsidiary of both Trusts, WPL offers the opportunity to contribute to the wider NHS family and improve healthcare services across the region.

Our services include strategic sourcing, value creation, tendering, contract management, inventory oversight, distribution, and materials management across Southampton, Basingstoke, Winchester, and Andover. Joining WPL means being part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team, working alongside stakeholders to drive innovation, efficiency, and value.

Employee Benefits

• Generous NHS pension scheme
• NHS terms of service and annual leave
• Access to an employee benefits platform offering discounts on groceries, high street shopping, family outings, holidays, and more

For more information, visit: www.wessexprocurement.nhs.uk

Southampton offers an excellent quality of life, located on the south coast with an international airport and direct train links to London. The area boasts the stunning New Forest National Park, beautiful beaches along the Jurassic Coast, and living costs around 20% lower than London. With 14 Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” schools, it’s a great place to live and work.

Your Main Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To work as a member of the procurement team participating in the development and implementation of customers’ procurement strategies by ensuring it is communicated, understood and supported by budget managers and clinicians, so achieving the department’s objectives and ensuring commercial arrangements are optimised
• Supported review and development of selected areas of non-pay spend and the planning, design and implementation of best value-for-money contracts and most cost-effective internal logistics arrangements. Aligning all tasks with WPL Strategy
• Assist with the commercial management of procurement process with responsibility for a defined selection of projects, working directly with the managers, budget managers, clinicians and finance staff
• Support procurement processes by identifying and evaluating best value for money
• Negotiate with suppliers and stakeholder(s) to ensure compliant and resilient route to market
• Engage and contribute to the successful performance of the organisation
• Deliver excellent levels of customer service, respond to queries and complaints promptly. Liaise with Stakeholders to resolve the matter
• Communicate with clinical, management and end users listening to stakeholders feedback and reporting any impacts to the team while using your operational networks to raise the profile of the Wessex NHS Procurement Limited team and its value
• Support the procurement team culture of collaborative, flexible cross-team working and commitment to delivering quality services and outcomes, which maintain the Government’s policies on public health
• Comply with corporate governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the parent organisation(s)

Build Collaborative Relationships

• Proactively and positively contribute to delivery of targets through individual and team effort. Manage the progress towards the required targets and control risks
• Support team members to deliver on their objectives through offering advice, guidance and support as appropriate
• Delivery of procurement work to specification on time and within budget.
• Assist Procurement Managers and procurement specialists to write and implement tender procedures and policies
• Establish effective communications with internal and external customers, facilitate discussions and field questions listening to concerns and objectives from all
• Strategic Purchasing & Supply Chain activity
• Create opportunities to leverage suppliers by driving proactive and collaborative monitoring of contracts
• Develop knowledge skills within the team through documenting key learnings.
• Achieve continuous improvement of procurement practice through effective record keeping and summarising lessons learned.
• Form working partnerships with external organisations, neighbouring Trusts and key stakeholders and across sectors
• Support and maintain the development of the single Wessex NHS Procurement Limited catalogue management strategy

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Degree level qualification in a business, purchasing, supply or similar subject OR studying towards CIPS qualification OR demonstrate suitable experience in similar role

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of contract law, UK Procurement processes/law, Corporate Governance
• Member of CIPS or equivalent

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Experience of identifying and evaluating value for money
• Experience of fast paced problem solving both remotely and in person and ability to impart information succinctly and concisely.
• Supply chain problem solving and negotiation experience
• Experience in achieving objectives whilst maintaining good relationships with customers or stakeholders

Desirable criteria

• Clinical/NHS Market and supplier / product knowledge including Procedures and catalogue management
• Track record of delivering savings or enhanced value for money
• Training and mentoring experience
• Experience of working as part of a team

Values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Agile, Supportive, Trusted, Engaged & Responsive