Procurement - Senior Category Manager

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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest trusts in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust, comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon and Southend, is determined to provide the best health services for its local population. We are a well-led, high-performing and innovative organisation working in the best interests of the people we serve.

Job overview

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE) are seeking a 'Procurement - Senior Category Manager' to join its Procurement directorate.

If successful, you will be a key support to the Category Lead(s) by Providing guidance, advice and programme management of all agreed local procurement activities and planned strategies that have been agreed by the MSE Procurement Directorate.

You will provide a proactive procurement service to the Care Group or Corporate Division(s) that you work with, covering both strategic advice and operational support. Be a recognised professional procurement lead for the Trust on high profile, high risk procurement's.

As part of our Corporate Sourcing Team, you will be responsible for working with key stakeholders from divisions that include, but not limited to, Digital Services, Estates & Facilities, Human Resources and Finance.

This role offers both flexible and hybrid working. Your main office location will be Britannia House in Southend, but the post holder will have the option of homeworking for up to 3 days a week.

As part of your role, you will be expected, from time to time, to travel to any of the Trust hospital sites (Southend Hospital, Basildon Hospital & Broomfield Hospital).

The office is off-site from the hospital with parking available, a short 5-10 min walk away (approx. £18 per month), and shuttle bus that runs between Britannia Park and Southend Hospital.

Main duties of the job

You will lead on negotiations of complex, high value contracts for the procurement of capital and consumable items. As well as managing the implementation and development of Procurement services for MSE to support the strategic approach to Category and Contract Management.

The main duties of the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responsible for supporting the development of procurement strategies for allocated categories within the Corporate Sourcing team, through detailed demand/market analysis and a recognised Strategic Sourcing process
• Carry out procurements for highly detailed high value contracts that require analysis, comparison, and assessment.
• Identify and develop opportunities for strategic supplier partnerships supporting long term and high quality service delivery, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Prepare specifications, award criteria, draft service tenders and quotation documentation in accordance with Service Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders, and current and future Public Contract Regulations with particular reference to goods and services.
• Issue tender documentation in a timely manner to meet the agreed Procurement Workplan.
• Work with NHS collaborative procurement agencies and other services on joint projects and tenders, mini-competition
• Ensure customers and the corporate procurement team maintain compliance with statutory and local policies/standards/procedures throughout the procurement process.

Working for our organisation

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information about this interesting role, please see attached job description, but responsibilities include:

• Provide specialist training for staff from own or other disciplines on own subject area, when required. Ensure the appropriate level of cover is provided, arranging on call and 24 hour working where appropriate.
• Be active and visible participant in MSE Procurement Directorate and support the development of a strong culture of teamwork. Provide support, guidance and 360 feedback through 1-2-1 meetings, development and team building.
• Assist in supporting the new and dynamic team to deliver professional procurement managed services to MSE Group and where applicable to wider regional organisations.
• Actively support a culture of collaboration, flexible cross-team working and a commitment to delivering high quality service for all customers.
• Work to the targets & objectives identified and agreed with the Senior Category Lead.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Masters degree or equivalent gained through work experience

Desirable criteria

• Member of the institute of logistics
• MCIPS - Corporate member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Expert knowledge of best in class procurement practices
• Experience of business development and tender processes
• Experience of developing complex contractual agreements
• Experience in producing and understanding business plans, reports, contracts and service level agreements

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Senior Category Manager JD (PDF, 504.3KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• Ladybird Nursery Prospectus (PDF, 802.1KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 23/24 (PDF, 40.2KB)
• Pension Contribution information 2022-23 (PDF, 59.6KB)