Buyer

NHS; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A unique opportunity for a procurement professional to join a team dedicated to enhancing services at Calderdale Royal Hospital. As part of a major reconfiguration project, the successful candidate will coordinate procurement activities, ensuring they align with Trust's objectives. If you have experience within NHS procurement, this is a chance to make a significant impact in a rewarding role.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in NHS or public sector procurement.
• Experience managing procurement processes including tenders and quotations.
• Ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and contract management activities.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance and address cost-saving initiatives.

Skills

Understanding of NHS procurement landscape

Negotiation skills

Customer service focus

Organizational skills

Education

Vocational/Professional courses in procurement or relevant experience

Job description

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd (CHS), in collaboration with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, is embarking on a journey to reconfigure the Calderdale and Huddersfield hospital estate and improve patient services, in particular the building of 8 new wards and an extended A&E at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

CHS is a great place to work and it is even more exciting now as we begin this reconfiguration project. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to become a key part of the Team who will deliver this large-scale project. You will be in the perfect place to help co-ordinate, lead and manage the procurement and contract activity, working with both internal and external stakeholders. This role also provides many possibilities for personal development.

Don't miss the chance to apply for this role as, opportunities of this scale very rarely come around in procurement.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will

• Support the Category Manager coordinate and lead all procurement and contracting activity in collaboration with the internal and external stakeholders in relation to reconfiguration activity.
• Ensure that goods and services are obtained in the most cost-effective manner, in accordance with the Trust's Financial Procedures, Public Contract Regulations, Provider Selection Regime and Procurement Act 2023.
• Develop strong working relationships with all stakeholders, both internal and external to the Trust, promoting a culture of shared responsibility for procurement issues within the context of Trust objectives.
• Undertake and ensure robust Tendering and Contracting activity in line with Trust financial procedures.
• Provide a source of information and specialist advice to customers and generally act as a focal point for all communication with suppliers and commercial representatives.
• Obtain and analyse contract and spend data.
• Maintain appropriate procurement (and other) records on behalf of CHS/the Trust.
• Have regular communication with suppliers to ensure up to date and best pricing is achieved and maintained.
• Support with pre-procurement activity including benchmarking, demonstrations, product trials etc.
• Undertake quotation/tender activity in line with Standing Financial Instructions, Public Contract Regulations, Provider Selection Regime and Procurement Act 2023.
• Demonstrate strong negotiation skills in the Buying activity.

About us

At CHS we understand the differences in delivering our services in complex environments and we have a flexible approach to meet the needs of our customers. Our Estates and Facilities management functions alongside our Clinical Engineering, decontamination and procurement service, provides the following:

• Fully managed estate and building maintenance
• Clinical Engineering and Decontamination
• Procurement advice, guidance and governance
• Capital project management
• Transport
• Grounds maintenance.
• Catering
• Cleaning (including robot and deep cleaning)

All provided to nationally recognised standards giving you assurance that your premises and equipment will be the best they can, and your customers will have confidence in you as a provider.

Job responsibilities

Operational Activity

Take responsibility and undertake the purchase of goods and services as delegated, in line with current SFI values Public Contract Regulations, Provider Selection Regime and Procurement Act 2023.

Undertake quotation/tender exercises for goods and services not available against contract, in line with current SFI values Public Contract Regulations, Provider Selection Regime and Procurement Act 2023..

Interact with suppliers to ensure up to date and best pricing is achieved, mitigating risk of price increases where possible.

Interact with stakeholders to ensure best value purchasing is undertaken providing guidance and training where necessary.

Develop a knowledge of the NHS landscape including framework and products to advise stakeholders of the same.

Support Tasks

Support with monitoring supplier performance ongoing as part of the Reconfiguration delivery programme.

Support with the development and enhancement of key supplier relationships and explore new business opportunities based on procurement activity.

Support with the identification and progression of cost saving efficiency schemes, liaising with divisional representatives where necessary.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

• Kowledge and understanding of the NHS or wider public sector procurement landscape
• Plan and organise own work within broad professional policies
• Ability to cope with conflicting priorities
• Understanding of general purchasing including buying processes
• Must be able to work within a team
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Must have a strong customer service focus
• Numerate and literate
• Ability to use telephone in a professional confident manner
• Ability to influence others

Experience

• Proven experience of working in the NHS environment or wider Public Sector
• Proven experience of running a tender/quotation process
• Experience of working in line with SFIs and Public Contract Regulations
• Experience of negotiating and liaising with suppliers
• Commercial focus or business background
• Proven skills in buying and raising orders
• Proven experience of purchase order systems such as NEP
• Experience of working in a customer centred environment
• Previous experience in the NHS or other public sector organisation in a purchasing role
• Proven experience of using a e-tendering system
• Evidence of delivering cost saving initiatives
• Experience of training others

Qualifications

• Vocational/Professional courses appropriate to the post or relevant experience
• Willingness to undertake appropriate further study

General

• Ability to work in various locations throughout the network of services provided by the Company/Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
• Able to fulfil the health requirements of the post as identified in the Job Description, taking into account any reasonable adjustments recommended by Occupational Health
• Must be eligible to work in the UK

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions

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