Category Officer

NHS; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A health services provider in Cardiff is seeking a Category Officer to support procurement processes across Health Boards in Wales. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate strong analytical abilities and a good understanding of purchasing principles. This position allows for a hybrid working arrangement after induction. Applicants should possess relevant qualifications and experience in managing stakeholder relationships effectively.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Agile working approach

Continuing professional development

Qualifications

• Proven ability to establish and enhance working relationships with stakeholders.
• Experience in a contracting function is essential.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets.

Responsibilities

• Support the Category Manager to maximize opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with organizational standards and relevant legislation.
• Deliver excellent customer service to internal and external customers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

CIPS Level 4/NVQ 2/3 or equivalent

5 GCSEs grade C and above

2 A Levels or equivalent

Tools

ECDL

Job description

NWSSP is responsible for the full Procure to Pay process for all Health Boards, Trusts, and Special Health Authorities in Wales. A vacancy hasarisen for a Category Officer within the National Medical Sourcing team.This is an excellent opportunity to develop your procurement career in a dynamic, challenging, and high-profile environment. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the application of commercial skills, negotiation; relationship management of internal and external stakeholdersTo be successful in this post, the candidate will be of a continuous improvement mindset; need to be flexible and responsive to changes in priorities; be of a resilient personality; demonstrable track record in delivering creative and innovative service improvement solutions; manageheavy workload at pace; ensure policies and procedures are adhered to ensuring strategic and operational targets are delivered.Although preferred, it is not essential to have experience of this category, as this learning can be provided as part of 'on the job' training andprocurement/commercial skills are transferable.The organisation recognises the challenges of recruiting high calibre candidates and has a number of bases across Wales. Whilst the base would be Cardiff, hybrid working is a benefit of this role after a period of induction, the successful candidate will be office based/home based 3/2 days per week and discussions may be held in this regard with the successful candidate.

Main duties of the job

An opportunity has arisen for a Category Officer to join the NHS Shared Services - Procurement Services' Team providing professional support to all Health Boards and Trusts across Wales. The successful applicant will, following a period of induction into the team, support the Category Manager to maximise opportunities, rationalisation & ensure value for money, from the identification of demand through to the award and publication of contracts in line with the published category contract programme ensuring compliance with Organisational standards and relevant legislation. The ideal candidate will have office experience with an understanding and application of basic purchasing principles, keen analytical skills with advanced Microsoft Office knowledge.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.

Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people.

Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.

Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone. To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit https://nwssp.nhs.wales/working-for-us/

NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Qualified to CIPS (Level 4)/NVQ2/3 or equivalent experience 5 GCSE's grade C and above, including Maths & English or equivalent experience
• 2 A levels or equivalent
• Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual.

Experience

• Proven ability to establish and enhance effective working relationships with stakeholders
• Previous work experience in a contracting function: e.g. able to construct specifications, appraise suppliers, invite tenders & evaluate bids, terms and conditions of contact.
• Experience of managing staff
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets
• General understanding of the Procure to Pay process.
• Awareness of Business planning principles
• Working knowledge of quality systems and procedures including problem solving techniques
• Previous experience of working in an office environment
• Knowledge of best practice, benchmarking and performance measurement techniques

Skills and Attributes

• Ability to work to deadlines
• Dynamic approach to work
• Numerate
• Articulate
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Products
• Proven ability to prepare documentation utilising Microsoft products that are both structurally and grammatically correct and capable of final presentation
• Excellent organisational skills
• Proven communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow work through to completion
• Ability to work positively as part of a team
• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh

Other

• Ability to travel (public and/or private) off site for meetings (as appropriate) throughout Wales and other parts of the UK
• Deliver excellent customer service to our internal and external customers, helping us to maintain the customer service excellence standard

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.