Senior Buyer | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in the UK is seeking an Operations Manager to lead their procurement team. The role involves managing efficient purchasing processes, training staff, and negotiating with suppliers to ensure best value for money. Ideal candidates should have strong leadership skills and experience in procurement within a healthcare setting. This is a full-time position with a commitment to flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement and supply chain management.
• Strong leadership and training capabilities.
• Ability to analyze financial and purchasing data.

Responsibilities

• Manage Operations team to ensure efficient purchasing.
• Conduct training and induction for new staff.
• Negotiate with suppliers for best value.

Skills

Customer-focused service

Team management

Budget management

Supplier negotiation

Analytical skills

Job description

Overview

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is offering a role based at Royal South Hants Hospital, Brintons Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YG, and Basingstoke Hospital, Aldermaston Rd, Basingstoke RG24 9NA. Wessex NHS Procurement Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The company provides end to end Procurement and Supply Chain services to hospitals in Basingstoke, Winchester, and Southampton. An attached person specification documents the essential and desirable skills and experience for this role; review it and use it as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties, see the Job Description and Main Responsibilities section below. The full job description document attached explains day-to-day responsibilities in more detail. University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering learning and development opportunities. Southampton is a coastal city with access to the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

UHS is committed to a flexible working environment and to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Main Duties

• Responsible for the Operations team to deliver a customer-focused and efficient service in the purchasing of goods and services.
• Day-to-day management of a team, including HR procedures such as attendance, performance and appraisals.
• Undertaking training for the team in relevant procedures and processes; ensuring procedures and processes are kept up to date.
• Play a key role in the induction and training of new staff.
• Plan own workload and the team’s workload to ensure all order requests are processed, queries resolved and catalogues reviewed as required.
• Ensure all reports are produced for the line manager within specified time frames.
• Budget and resource management.
• Support the team with CIP opportunities and catalogue management.
• Responsible for recording savings using appropriate procedures.
• Source suppliers for goods and services in line with user department requirements.
• Training of Trust staff on e-procurement tools.

Communication

• Negotiate with suppliers and external bodies to maximise value for money and cost improvement opportunities.
• Communicate with suppliers to provide information in response to pre-purchase questionnaires for medical equipment procedures.
• Establish, maintain and manage supplier relationships where appropriate.
• Provide support for charity/donation purchases and coordinate with Finance and Charity departments to align with Trust protocol.
• Communicate delays and discrepancies with customers, handling them efficiently and appropriately.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• Assess customer requirements for appropriate ordering and distribution methods (urgency, quality, price, supply route).
• Analyze financial and purchasing data to determine best value options.
• Assess problem situations and determine appropriate resolutions with customers or suppliers.
• Understand and analyse spend information on specific products or services and relay to customers.
• Identify opportunities for contracting or tendering.
• Work closely with user departments to review goods and services purchased.

Policy and Service Development

• Work according to established policies and procedures, suggesting amendments where feasible.
• Monitor supplier performance against contract KPIs (costs, quality, delivery timescales, etc.) and standing orders with user departments.
• Assist the procurement lead with developing and implementing departmental policies and procedures.

Information Resources

• Enter data into the purchasing system and process orders per procedures.
• Produce pricing data for comparison and inform customers.
• Check stock and availability information; ensure orders use the appropriate method.
• Ensure contract documentation compliance using the contracts register.
• Utilise e-tendering, contract and supplier management tools for mini-competitions.
• Facilitate and support continuous improvement in the Catalogue system.

Research and Development

• Audit and survey Operations team work to ensure target compliance.
• Undertake market analysis to identify alternative suppliers offering cost efficiencies with no detrimental clinical impact.
• Guide customers on achieving value for money within financial and purchasing procedures.
• Discuss and agree solutions to order/delivery queries with customers and suppliers.
• Communicate discrepancies in relation to products and services with customers and category leads.
• Establish and manage internal stakeholder relationships to ensure effective service delivery.

Undertaking any other assignments or duties allocated by the line manager.

This advert closes on Wednesday 24 Sep 2025.