Trainee Category Specialist/Category Specialist

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a senior procurement professional to lead sourcing initiatives, develop category strategies and manage end-to-end tender processes across Trust-wide spend. You will drive contract compliance and deliver significant cost savings while engaging clinicians, managers and directors to optimise procurement decisions.

The role requires robust knowledge of procurement law, the ability to run multiple concurrent projects and to influence senior

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• MCIPS qualification or working towards it.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and contract management across dedicated categories.
• Develop and implement category strategies to support procurement objectives.
• Ensure compliance with contract law, PA23 and PSR.
• Prepare procurement strategy papers and contract award documentation for senior management.
• Deliver cost and efficiency savings across multiple projects.
• Engage clinicians and managers throughout product selection and supply processes.

Skills

Procurement experience

Contract Law

Competitive tendering

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Microsoft Office

Education

Degree or equivalent

MCIPS or equivalent

Tools

Find a Tender

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To consistently meet best value for money by the effective sourcing of goods and services.
• To promote contract compliance across all the stakeholders within the Trust.
• To ensure all procurement activities operate in full accordance with legal (UK legislation), environment and sustainability requirements.
• Assist Category manager in development and implementation of category strategy to support Group wide procurement strategy
• Assist in the Group working approach for specified category area, contributing to streamlined processes and documentation across the Group
• Attendance and contribution as required to relevant divisional meetings, supporting CIP programmes and the pro‑active management of contract expiry dates
• Attendance where appropriate at Management Board meetings.
• Deputise for Category Manager at meetings as required
• To lead on sourcing of specific category area for University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and specific sourcing programmes for defined projects Trust wide taking the lead on the allocated sourcing category, categories or services and contributing significantly to the delivery of allocated procurement projects within key markets. Sourcing programmes may entail end to end tender process and subsequent contract management.
• Lead on ensuring compliant contracts are in place with relevant KPI's within category area
• Preparation and presentation of Procurement Strategy, Procurement process plans and contributing and/or authorisation of contract award papers to the appropriate senior management, including the Executive Team.
• To lead in the delivery of cost and efficiency savings across a large project range across relevant category, by analysing current spend information and undertaking market analysis to develop procurement strategies. To ensure that Divisional proposals for non‑pay savings are robust and reported appropriately.
• Utilise the Trusts business Intelligence tool (Qlikview) to produce reports on contract coverage, track spend activity and generate savings opportunities
• To significantly contribute to the Trust's non‑pay saving target
• The engagement of Clinicians, Managers and Stakeholders in the end to end process for product selection and supply of services, including demand challenge, transition and implementation planning and development of strategy, tender evaluation, award criteria, and on‑going contract management.
• Undertaking rigorous and widespread benchmarking activity to support on‑going negotiation and market intelligence for designated Categories.

Person specification

Training and Education

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level of education, training or experience
• MCIPS qualified, or equivalent, or have relevant experience in senior procurement role - as a minimum, must be working towards to CIPS qualification
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience in relation to Procurement activity
• Robust knowledge of Contract Law, PA23, PSR and purchasing procedures.
• Can run competitive tender (including mini competitions), and Find a Tender procurements, with support from senior team members, compliantly from start to finish - with demonstrable examples of a variety of these that have been carried out
• Computer literate with detailed knowledge of standard computer packages e.g Microsoft Office, Internet browsing and ordering systems.
• Ability to plan and deliver a number of concurrent complex and time‑critical projects, prioritizing work to achieve deadlines.
• Experience in capital build/construction procurements
• Proven track record in leading strategic sourcing and/or project management in procurement related activity.
• Demonstrable ability to assist in running meetings at a senior level, with particular reference to procurement projects and the processes within this
• Excellent verbal and written skills (including report writing)
• Significant experience in a similar procurement role

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working within the NHS and an understanding of current issues
• Sound understanding and experience in the application of computerised purchasing systems and the concept of e‑commerce.
• Able to facilitate cross working and understanding of Group Strategy areas e.g. sustainability

Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent numerate, analytical and reasoning skills.
• Ability to solve complex problems in an innovative way
• Ability to understand and influence complex purchase to pay networks.
• Ability to retrieve and interpret complex data as a basis for determining strategies and policies and how these should be applied to determine required procurement routes
• Ability to contribute to and influence the direction and strategy of the procurement function.
• Ability to lead team and others in a programme of change.
• Ability to formulate, implement and review strategies, policies, work plans and performance measures.
• Ability to prioritize workload of self and team members
• Excellent project management skills.
• Ability to plan and deliver a number of concurrent complex and time‑critical projects, prioritizing work to achieve deadlines.
• Effective oral and written communication skills with good presentation skills to board level.
• Ability to lead, persuade and influence colleagues and service users including clinicians, senior managers and directors.
• Standard keyboard skills

Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes

Essential criteria

• Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
• Able to translate vision into reality.
• Ability to operate in a multi-disciplinary environment and to develop effective internal and external relationships at all levels including director level.
• Able to communicate complex operational, and management issues to Director level.
• Personal credibility, with the ability to quickly gain the confidence of others.
• Enthusiastic and able to assist in change and implement new ideas/concepts
• Ability to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group (where postholders are required to travel as part of their role)

Important Information

We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

We welcome applications from members of our black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, especially in relation to senior posts within at KGH.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

Appointments will be made on merit.

If you need to have a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, as a requirement of the role, you will be required to repay the cost of obtaining a DBS check (£49.50) and this amount will be reclaimed from your first salary. From 1st February 2019 all new starters to the Trust are required to join the DBS update service as per Trust DBS Re‑checking Policy which has an annual cost of £16. New employees who do not join the update service will be required to pay £49.50 for a new DBS check in 3 years time.

Please note that news starters with KGH are subject to a six month probationary period.

Please ensure that the information you provide on your application form is correct, accurate and that nothing has been omitted. Any information that is stated in your application form in relation to qualifications/training courses/work/education experience/references must be able to be evidenced. Failure to do so may result if your offer being withdrawn.

"Safeguarding is everyone's business. KGH considers Safeguarding a priority amongst its citizen's and a key value for all employed to the service."

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.