Senior Buyer
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Senior Buyer role within the Foundation Group Procurement Shared Service, serving George Eliot NHS Trust, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, and Wye Valley Trust.
We are looking to recruit an ambitious, hardworking, confident buyer to join a supportive team who all work hard together in making a success of the Foundation Group Procurement Shared Service.
Reporting to one of the Procurement Managers within the Team, you will support the smooth running of the service by responding to purchase requisitions, obtaining competitive quotations and creating purchase orders, along with responding to routine customer enquiries on product details availability and returns.
Duties will also include gathering and analysing data to ensure goods and services are procured in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
This is a full-time post working 37.5 hours per week.
For all queries please contact, Chris Dobson Christopher.Dobson@swft.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
The role of the Senior Buyer will be to assist the procurement team across the Foundation Group, working on behalf of George Eliot NHS Trust, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, or Wye Valley Trust.
As part of the procurement team at the Foundation Group Procurement Shared Service, you will help the Procurement Managers. The role will include, identifying and sourcing appropriate supplies and goods, providing cost effective solutions for the organisation. You will regularly liaise with suppliers and supply chain teams to ensure value for money and the best service possible is being delivered.
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Purchasing and e-procurement:
Sourcing goods and services across the Foundation Group in accordance with each Trust's Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, the NHS Standards of Procurement and the Public Contract Regulations. Responsible for sourcing and purchasing of goods and services up to a value up to £50,000 including VAT. The post holder is expected to deal with the day to day procurement needs, meeting all the required operational deadlines, of the Trusts directly only referring high value contracts to Procurement Managers and escalating any issues only as required
Proactively provide procurement advice and guidance to Trust staff and suppliers in a timely manner. This may be made in via meetings, email, or telephone and must be in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and any laid down procedures
Manage the collection of information for electronic catalogues of goods and services supplied. Ensure the data is either collected in or transposed into prescribed format and making the electronic catalogue available to the appropriate wards and departments
Manage and coordinate supplier relationship meetings / contract reviews with Trust stakeholders and designated suppliers to ensure supplier performance. Act as the Foundation Group Procurement Shared Service representative. Dealing with any initial problems before seeking guidance from Procurement Managers
To develop specialist knowledge of suppliers and products for designated commodities so as to be able to communicate at appropriate technical level with suppliers and product and service users
Coordinate and liaise with senior ward- and departmental managers to establish protocols for the requisitions and approvers for the purchase of goods and services, and to arrange access to the systems for the processing of transactions
Assist with training users on e-procurement and purchase order processing, assisting the systems team with the preparation of training materials and setting up of new users. Reporting any system issues direct to the systems tea
Deal with enquiries/queries by suppliers, Wards and Departments relating to e-procurement - issues may be time critical and effect Hospital operations. Refer any unresolved issues to the Procurement Manager and /or Head of Procurement
Authorise requisitions for stock items
Keep the electronic catalogues up-to-date on the e-procurement system
Investigate the potential for increasing contract coverage, aggregation and migration. Investigate and lead projects around the potential for increasing contract periods, where this leads to improved efficiency and effectiveness and reduces costs. This work will involve managing complex data and will require extended periods of concentration to ensure accuracy. Where opportunities are identified, either conducts contracting work where appropriate, or escalate to the Procurement Manager or Head of Procurement
Evaluate and analyse competitive offers, taking into account factors including: whole life costing, different pricing structures and units of issue, and life expectancy/usage estimates
Maintain the department's contracts database with relevant up to date information
Investigate potential savings opportunities, particularly with regard to each Trust's and the overarching Foundation Group Procurement Shared Service, Cost Improvement Plan targets, and engage and deliver in the realisation of savings opportunities
Take the lead and deliver e-procurement system training to Trust personnel, both within the Purchasing Office and in the wider Trust
Generate purchase orders from approved requisitions in accordance with the Trusts SFI's, Police and Challenge high-value non-contract requests and amend any incorrect Purchase Orders. The use of purchasing cards when required
Training and development:
To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve own professional knowledge and competence
To participate in the Trust's Personal Development Review and objective setting under the NHS Key Skills Framework, including the creation of a personal development plan
Undertake Trust mandatory training
Communication:
Develop and maintain good working relationships at all levels within the Trust to ensure that the service is delivered in an effective and efficient way to support the day-to-day activities of the Trust
Develop and maintain good working relationships with suppliers and the Trusts procurement partner to ensure efficient and effective communications regarding the procurement of goods and services and management of electronic catalogues .
Manage and coordinate supplier relationship meetings / contract review meetings with Trust stakeholders and designated suppliers to ensure supplier performance. Careful management is required as these meeting can become difficult / challenging.
Share information with Procurement department as a whole, in order to increase knowledge and awareness and to reduce the potential for errors or duplication
Attend, and contribute to, team meetings as and when required
Update and maintain the department's intranet page as required
General:
Understand the Trust's Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Guidelines to Effective Purchasing, and the Public Contract Regulations, and be able to purchase or advise according to them
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list and is not limited to the aspects covered above and may be subject to change from time to time
Any other duties as required which are appropriate to the grade and post.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE Standard with GCSE Level 4 in Maths and English
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Procurement qualification (e.g. Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience working as part of a team and the ability to develop contacts and build networks
- Experience of working in a customer service environment
- Working knowledge of Procurement
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of Public Contract Regulations
- Knowledge of Contract Law
Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to present and receive information within the multi professional team
- Assertive skills
- Experience of involvement in a team based working environment
- Experience of being able to work independently to agreed outcomes and timescales
- Demonstrate self- awareness and understanding of personal accountability and ability to work within boundaries of defined procedures, guidelines and policies
- Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy
- Produce timely, accurate written/electronic records and documents
- Able to constructively challenge the status quo to ensure best value from suppliers
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Demonstrate and ability to prioritise own workload and recognise, prioritise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situation
- Demonstrate effective time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of negotiation and influencing skills
Personal Qualitites
Essential criteria
- Flexible, adaptable and confident
- Caring, enthusiastic and well motivated
- Ability to work flexibly to ensure that necessary work is completed
Other
Essential criteria
- Able to undertake manual handling and manoeuvres
- Able to Travel to other Trusts within the Foundation Group
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
- Senior Buyer Job Description (PDF, 155.0KB)
- Senior Buyer Person Spec (PDF, 128.6KB)