Buyer

SWAST; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a proactive Buyer to join the Procurement Team for up to 9 months to cover maternity leave. The role involves raising purchase orders, supporting quotations and tenders, maintaining records and ensuring compliance with NHS policies.

Hybrid working with Exeter HQ attendance every fortnight, and in-person interviews in Exeter. The successful candidate will bring strong administrative, organisational and communication skills, with the

Qualifications

• GCSEs including English and Mathematics.
• MCIPS qualification or Foundation Level CIPS.
• Previous administration experience.
• Experience with sensitive data and maintaining records.
• Procurement knowledge in NHS/Public Sector.

Responsibilities

• Raise and process purchase orders, ensuring requisitions are complete and compliant.
• Support quotation, tendering and contract award activities.
• Provide guidance to staff and suppliers on procurement enquiries.
• Assist supplier onboarding and due-diligence checks.
• Maintain procurement records, contracts and supplier data.
• Support spend analysis and generation of management information.
• Assist contract management including performance monitoring.
• Challenge non-contracted spend and promote value for money.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders to meet business needs.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement processes.
• Develop procurement knowledge through training and development opportunities.

Skills

Administrative skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Supplier onboarding

NHS procurement knowledge

Education

GCSEs including English and Mathematics

MCIPS qualification or Foundation Level CIPS

Job description

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Buyer

The closing date is 20 October 2026

Are you an organised and customer-focused individual looking to develop a career in Procurement within the NHS?

We are seeking a Buyer to join our friendly and supportive Procurement Team for up to 9 months to cover maternity leave.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience across a wide range of procurement activities while helping to support services that contribute to patient care across the South West.

Working with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders across the Trust, you will support the procurement of goods and services, raise and process purchase orders, assist with quotation and tender exercises, maintain procurement and contract records, and help ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures. You will also support supplier onboarding, manage procurement enquiries, undertake spend analysis, and contribute to continuous improvement within the procurement function.

This role would suit someone with strong administrative, organisational and communication skills who enjoys problem-solving, working with data, and building effective working relationships. Whether you already have procurement experience or are looking to start a career in the profession, we offer training, development opportunities and support towards professional procurement qualifications.

The team operates a hybrid working arrangement, with home working and attendance at Trust Headquarters in Exeter once every fortnight on a Wednesday.

Interviews will take place in person in Exeter.

Main duties of the job

• Raising and processing purchase orders, ensuring requisitions are complete, appropriately authorised, and compliant with Trust policies and procedures
• Supporting quotation, tendering, and contract award activities, including the preparation, collation, and administration of procurement documentation
• Acting as a first point of contact for procurement enquiries, providing advice and guidance to Trust staff and suppliers
• Supporting supplier onboarding and registration processes, ensuring appropriate due diligence checks are completed
• Maintaining procurement records, contract information, supplier data, and filing systems to ensure information is accurate, secure, and accessible
• Assisting with spend analysis, reporting, and the production of management information to support procurement planning and decision making
• Supporting contract management activities, including supplier performance monitoring, contract reviews, and contract renewals
• Challenging non-contracted spend where appropriate and supporting initiatives that promote value for money and compliance with Standing Financial Instructions
• Developing effective working relationships with stakeholders across the Trust to promote good procurement practice and ensure business needs are met
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, helping to enhance procurement processes, systems, and ways of working
• Developing procurement knowledge and skills through training, learning, and professional development opportunities

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

The role is based in Exeter, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefitso Competitive NHS salaryo A standard working week of 37.5 hourso Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 yearso Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime workingo Generous Pension Schemeo Career and salary progressiono Car leasing schemeo Free parking across Trust siteso Staff networkso Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Right to work / Certificate of sponsorship

This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current Home Office regulations. You must have the existing right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

For further information on visa sponsorship and eligibility, please refer to the UK Government guidance on Skilled Worker visas: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Person Specification

• Educated to GCSE or equivalent standard, including English and Mathematics
• Fully MCIPS Qualified or working towards Foundation Level CIPS
• Previous administration experience
• Previous experience of working with sensitive and confidential data
• Previous experience of developing and maintaining record systems
• Procurement Knowledge in NHS/Public Sector Environment

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.

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust