Senior Support Buyer

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Support Buyer position within the Support Buying team in the Procurement department. This post will be a full-time, permanent position.

We are looking for two enthusiastic, committed, and motivated individuals with passion and drive to join our Support Buying team. The key function of the role is to support the UHL staff with low value spend in day-to-day ordering of goods and services. This will be done by developing and delivering training to UHL staff on the right way to order goods and services and on the process of ensuring invoices and prices are accurate to ensure a timely payment to our supplier. The post holders will also act as key collaborators for UHL departments.

The successful candidates will need to have previous NHS procurement experience in a busy office environment with excellent administrative and organisational skills including the ability to prioritise workloads. Previous knowledge of purchase to pay systems, as well as excellent customer service and time management skills and experience of working on their own initiative are key requirements.

If you are a highly motivated and organised person with a good work ethic this may be the job for you, we will welcome your application.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Magda Mikolajczak, Purchase to Pay Team Co-ordinator, on 0116 502 7265 extension 27265.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will be required to act as a liaison between the Support Buying team, tasked with managing low value spend, and the rest of the Procurement department and UHL staff.

This will entail mentoring and monitoring the performance of the Support Buying team and using the relevant information to inform decision making for improvement plans.

The post holders will also have a close working relationship with the Accounts Payable department, to help ensure the smooth functioning of the purchase to pay process, from the point of raising an order all the way to payment of the invoice.

Working for our organisation

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacanc...

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Supporting the Purchase to Pay Co-Ordinator to deliver a professional support buying function
• Take ownership for updating contract information on the Contract Register in line with the Contract Management Framework
• Support working with key suppliers to ensure contracts and orders are placed in the timeframes agreed.
• Take the lead on areas of development in relation to area of responsibility
• Sustain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• To provide administrative support to the Procurement team including Clinical Procurement when called upon to do so.
• To support the uploading of product catalogues to the chosen Trust electronic Finance & Procurement ordering systems.
• To provide a professional helpdesk facility (email, telephone and procurement mailbox) for use by Trust staff/customers.
• Develop, maintain and deliver identified training for users of the P2P System.
• Develop and deliver improvement projects to deliver continuous improvement in the P2P systems and processes.
• To provide support for the wider Performance, Governance and Operational Procurement team as requested to do so.
• To support the Purchase to Pay Team Co-ordinator in developing and providing regular and appropriate communications to CMG's & requesters.
• Responsible for ensuring that consistent high standards of customer service are delivered at all times.
• Reporting of the accurate recording of any efficiencies or savings made because of the work that the Support Buying team carry out and the presentation of any data gathered as appropriate when requested to do so.

please see job description/person specification for further details on the role

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• E-Tendering experience
• At least 3 years' experience of purchase order systems
• Experience of negotiating and liaising confidently with suppliers
• Experience of developing and delivering training on the procure to pay process

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to analyse, interpret and present information from large data sets and identify trends and patterns
• IT skills including knowledge of software for contract management, electronic catalogue and e-procurement systems
• Knowledge of Public Procurement Regulations and Purchase to Pay

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NVQ3 and significant experience and or additional training

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

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.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Senior Support Buyer JD/PS (PDF, 464.4KB)
• Recruitment pack (PDF, 267.6KB)
• Understanding your right to work in the UK (PDF, 1.1MB)
• Employee Benefits (PDF, 578.5KB)