Senior Procurement Business Partner

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic individual to join their Procurement team. This role involves delivering high-quality procurement services, managing tendering processes, and ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations. The successful candidate will leverage their negotiation skills to foster strong supplier relationships and drive savings for the Trust. With a commitment to excellence, this organization offers a supportive environment where your contributions will have a meaningful impact on healthcare delivery. If you're passionate about procurement and looking for a rewarding challenge, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Free on-site parking

Free refreshments

Flexible working opportunities

Discounted gym membership

Lease car scheme

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Health and well-being programme

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a commercial based subject required.
• Experience in a procurement environment and compliance with EU Procurement law.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage procurement strategies to meet Trust objectives.
• Ensure compliance with Public Contracts Regulations in procurement processes.

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Communication Skills

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Supplier Relationship Management

Market Analysis

Time Management

Education

Degree in Commercial Subject

Membership of CIPS (MCIPS)

Tools

e-Procurement Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

We are looking to recruit a dynamic individual to join our Procurement team in delivering a high-quality procurement service to the Trust. The successful candidate will have experience of conducting tendering processes within a public sector organisation and therefore have good knowledge of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.You will be a skilled negotiator, able to influence and manage internal customer expectations as well as maintaining good supplier relationships. You will have excellent communication and presentation skills, be results focussed with a track record of savings and benefits delivery.

To find out more about this exciting opportunity please contact Lisa Johnston - Head of Procurement by email [e-mail]

*Previous candidates need not apply*

Interview date: 23May 2025

Main duties of the job

Responsible for the development, implementation and management of the procurement strategy and work plans to ensure compliance with and achievement of the trust's overall objectives.

Responsible for the delivery of highly effective, compliant and customer focused procurement services which meets the Trusts procurement and materials management requirements, including the Cost Improvement Plan (CIP) targets.

Track savings and quality improvement benefits to NHS Trusts to deliver best value to the NHS.

Develop excellent customer relationships, balancing commercial and clinical considerations in the purchasing of products and services, and ensuring these are imbedded into contractual agreements. Resulting in successful outcomes for the trust.

Support the development of excellent customer/stakeholder relationships and ensuring that best value solutions are adopted by the trust. Take the lead in developing key strategies for sourcing and contract management within allocated division spend area.

About us

MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free refreshments
• Great flexible workingopportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Job responsibilities

Work with the Head of Procurement to monitor, measure and record the performance of the procurement and supply chain function against key result areas as outlined in the procurement strategy and work plans, and contribute to regular reports for trust committees and boards.

Manage day to day procurement issues, attending meetings, seminars, and representing the trust at regional and national procurement forums. To provide procurement advice conforming with EU Procurement directives and other legislative requirements and support.

To attend, organise and facilitate regular meetings with Senior key stakeholders providing procurement advice conforming with EU Procurement directives and other legislative requirements and support.

Undertake supplier and customer market research to support the development of Strategic sourcing strategies such as collecting and collating information regarding supplier performance.

Ensuring that social value is embedded into all our procurement processes to enable successful delivery of the programmes social value strategy.

To ensure strategic supplier management arrangements are in place including strategic partnership with critical suppliers. To take responsibility for the development of principles of effective contract management

Sourcing

Effectively lead management and stakeholders to develop sourcing strategies for products and services within allocated division, and ensure delivery of established savings targets within the portfolio.

Collaborate with other government agencies and NHS Trusts in identifying and establishing joint procurement initiatives that will deliver enhanced value for money.

The Trust is required to act in accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It is a requirement of this role to ensure the Trust is compliant with all legislative and regulated requirements relating to contracting and procurement within the sector.

To provide advice and guidance on procurement issues to all staff, ensuring that appropriate procurement processes are adopted in all cases and that published tender documentation is compliant with law, is fair and transparent, and promotes fair competition.

Contracts

To ensure that the Trusts contracts register is managed and maintained in a timely manner, ensuring that data records are current and accurate.

Ensure that all contracts entered into by the Trust are well drafted fair and balanced, ensuring that risks are appropriately mitigated and/or apportioned appropriately and that any limitation in suppliers liability does not expose the Trust to unreasonable levels of risk.

Delivery of procurement savings in line with agreed targets defined in annual work plans and in-line with identified timelines.

Responsibility for ensuring that Trust staff comply with the Trusts processes, policies procedures and regulations.

Communications and Engagement

Develop and maintain excellent relationships with other departments through regular contact and pro-active support, ensuring timely and effective response to all enquiries and requests for support.

Develop and maintain regular contact with key suppliers and stakeholders to ensure current market knowledge is exemplary, and able to inform sourcing decisions.

Analytical and Judgement

Undertake analysis of portfolio spends to identify and forecast benefits available and to prioritise actions.

Provide reports on progress and benefits delivered through action plans, comparing actual results to forecasted outcomes and adjusting plans accordingly.

Staff Management and Development

Provide support, and where appropriate leadership in the delivery of effective and efficient, customer focused procurement services. Assist in achieving the delivery of Cost Improvement Plans (CIP) within designated division, that maximise commercial benefits for the Trust.

To be pro-active in supporting and sharing experiences, knowledge and information within the procurement team, to enable to wider development of knowledge and skills within the team.

Please refer to Job Description for further details

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Degree level or equivalent qualification in a commercial based subject.
• Registered full membership of the chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or equivalent experience or working towards the qualification.
• Knowledge of Public procurement processes and regulations
• Knowledge of contract law.
• Knowledge of purchase to pay systems and other e-procurement tools.
• Evidence of continuing Professional development.
• Knowledge of the Carter Report in to efficiencies within the NHS

Experience

• Worked within a procurement environment
• Developed procurements that comply with EU Procurement law
• Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
• Managing complex procurement projects including business case, options appraisal, tender documentation, tender evaluation and contract award processes.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures
• Experience of managing risks and reporting.
• Supplier Relationship Management, including supplier performance, continuous improvement and management of supplier expectations.
• Customer Relationship Management, support to internal clients and delivery of agreed outcomes.
• Experience of consistently delivering savings and benefits targets.
• Demonstrable Market Analysis to support project decisions business case and options.
• Understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection Act.
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
• Spend analysis and development of workstreams with identified priorities.
• Experience of using e-procurement tools including e-tendering, e-sourcing and reverse auctions
• Experience of creating and managing e-catalogues to facilitate corporate discipline within procurement activity.
• Experience of interacting with senior executives, providing advice and guidance on procurement issues.

Skills

• People management skills, able to resolve issues in a positive and productive manner.
• Excellent negotiation skills, ability to deliver commercial advantage for the Trust, and resolve contractual disputes in an advantageous manner
• Excellent Commercial awareness, able to spot opportunities and ensure these are exploited to the benefit of the Trust.
• Excellent IT skills able to use Microsoft office products to a good standard.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to engage at all levels within the Trust
• Ability to use some informed persuasion to influence others.
• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues, create some solutions to projects and service delivery
• Excellent time management skills able to identify priorities and ability to delegate effectively.
• Ability to work without supervision.
• Excellent knowledge of contract law and ability to influence contract documentation to minimize risk for the Trust.
• Knowledge of Public Contracts Regulations and experience of managing procurement projects within closely defined processes.
• Interpreting national policy for implementation.
• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.

Personal and people development

• Positive and enthusiastic approach
• Inclusive Team focused supportive approach.
• Desire to learn, seeks continuous improvement
• Leads by example and inspires others to achieve.

Communication

• Excellent written and oral communication Skills , able to engage at all levels within the Trust
• Ability to use visual communication tools such as Microsoft Office Applications.

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.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust