Band 4 - Tactical & Transactional Buyer, Procurement

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Welwyn Garden City seeks a Buyer to manage high-volume purchasing. The candidate should have strong communication and negotiation skills, with experience in public sector procurement. The role offers flexible working options and a chance to contribute to improving patient care through effective buying strategies.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Staff wellbeing initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in public sector procurement.
• Ability to manage procurement targets.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide transactional buying services.
• Support tactical procurements for the Procurement Team.
• Engage with multi-stakeholders for effective supply.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Stakeholder engagement

Relationship building

Job description

A Vacancy at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The role requires a well organised and effective individual who can work within a team of Buyers, providing low value but high-volume buying services across all member Trusts. The post holder will have a working knowledge of public sector procurement in relation to low value but high-volume tactical buying operations and procurement projects. The role will require good stakeholder engagement skills as they will be required to work across all member Trusts as well as providing support to the Trust and ICD Procurement teams.

The hours for this role will be 08.30 – 16.30 Monday – Friday. Permanent/Fixed term/Secondment contract (Until 4th June 2026) also available.

We are unable to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (Work Permit) for this role.

Responsibilities

• Providing consistent, standard transactional buying of low value, high volume goods and services using aligned policies, processes and procurement systems.
• Undertaking and supporting tactical procurements as allocated by the Tactical Buying Team Manager, to support the Procurement Team.
• Actioning requisitions and producing orders to external companies as and when required.
• Assisting with the achievement of all purchasing and supply strategies.
• Good communication, negotiation and influencing skills to engage a range of staff and suppliers to undertake Tactical and Transactional buying services.
• Engage with multi-stakeholders at a junior and management level.
• Develop good external relationship with Tactical and Transactional suppliers to foster effective contracting arrangements for member Trusts.
• Support the Transactional Buying Team Manager in conducting frequent face to face, written, verbal and electronic communications with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the Transactional Buying Team Manager in developing strategic procurement plans that are robust and support the overall strategy of the Procurement team.
• Directly manage and or support delivery of procurement targets for Tactical and Transactional buying, where applicable.
• Maximise satisfaction among both internal and external stakeholders.
• Support member Trusts in driving better patient care through securing continuity of Tactical and Transactional supply for critical goods and services.
• Ensure correct procurement practices are followed to drive value for money from Tactical and Transactional buying undertaken.
• Support the reputation of the Tactical and Transactional Buying team by providing a highly professional service.
• Promote standardisation and supplier rationalisation across member Trusts using the Tactical and Transactional Buying service.
• Maintain up to date information for the Transactional Buying Team Manager on progress against Tactical and Transactional savings workplans.

Key Skills

• Good communication, negotiation and influencing skills to engage a range of staff and suppliers to undertake Tactical and Transactional buying services.
• Engage with multi-stakeholders at a junior and management level.
• Develop good external relationship with Tactical and Transactional suppliers to foster effective contracting arrangements for member Trusts.
• Support the Transactional Buying Team Manager in conducting frequent face to face, written, verbal and electronic communications with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the Transactional Buying Team Manager in developing strategic procurement plans that are robust and support the overall strategy of the Procurement team.
• Directly manage and or support delivery of procurement targets for Tactical and Transactional buying, where applicable.
• Maximise satisfaction among both internal and external stakeholders.
• Support member Trusts in driving better patient care through securing continuity of Tactical and Transactional supply for critical goods and services.
• Ensure correct procurement practices are followed to drive value for money from Tactical and Transactional buying undertaken.
• Support the reputation of the Tactical and Transactional Buying team by providing a highly professional service.
• Promote standardisation and supplier rationalisation across member Trusts using the Tactical and Transactional Buying service.
• Maintain up to date information for the Transactional Buying Team Manager on progress against Tactical and Transactional savings workplans.

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

At West Herts we offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly.

If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact [e-mail].

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

This advert closes on Monday 27 Oct 2025.