Assistant Procurement Specialist | Wessex NHS Procurement Limited in Southampton

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please note WPL does not hold a Home Office Workers Licence and therefore unable to offer sponsorship. Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

At WPL, we play a key role in supporting the NHS in Hampshire, delivering end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As a wholly owned subsidiary of both Trusts, WPL offers the opportunity to contribute to the wider NHS family and improve healthcare services across the region. Our services include strategic sourcing, value creation, tendering, contract management, inventory oversight, distribution, and materials management across Southampton, Basingstoke, Winchester, and Andover. Joining WPL means being part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team, working alongside stakeholders to drive innovation, efficiency, and value.

Employee Benefits:

• NHS terms of service and annual leave
• Access to an employee benefits platform offering discounts on groceries, high street shopping, family outings, holidays, and more

Southampton offers an excellent quality of life, located on the south coast with an international airport and direct train links to London. The area boasts the stunning New Forest National Park, beautiful beaches along the Jurassic Coast, and living costs around 20% lower than London. With 14 Ofsted-rated "Outstanding" schools, it’s a great place to live and work.

Your Main Responsibilities:

• To work as a member of the procurement team participating in the development and implementation of customers’ procurement strategies by ensuring it is communicated, understood and supported by budget managers and clinicians, so achieving the department’s objectives and ensuring commercial arrangements are optimised.
• Supported review and development of selected areas of non-pay spend and the planning, design and implementation of best value-for-money contracts and most cost-effective internal logistics arrangements. Aligning all tasks with WPL Strategy.
• Assist with the commercial management of procurement process with responsibility for a defined selection of projects, working directly with the managers, budget managers, clinicians and finance staff.
• Support procurement processes by identifying and evaluating best value for money.
• Negotiate with suppliers and stakeholder(s) to ensure compliant and resilient route to market.
• Engage and contribute to the successful performance of the organisation.
• Deliver excellent levels of customer service, respond to queries and complaints promptly. Liaise with Stakeholders to resolve the matter.
• Communicate with clinical, management and end users listening to stakeholders feedback and reporting any impacts to the team while using your operational networks to raise the profile of the Wessex NHS Procurement Limited team and its value.
• Support the procurement team culture of collaborative, flexible cross-team working and commitment to delivering quality services and outcomes, which maintain the Government’s policies on public health.
• Comply with corporate governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the parent organisation(s).

Build Collaborative Relationships:

• Proactively and positively contribute to delivery of targets through individual and team effort.
• Manage the progress towards the required targets and control risks.
• Support team members to deliver on their objectives through offering advice, guidance and support as appropriate.
• Delivery of procurement work to specification on time and within budget.
• Assist Procurement Managers and procurement specialists to write and implement tender procedures and policies.
• Establish effective communications with internal and external customers, facilitate discussions and field questions listening to concerns and objectives from all Strategic Purchasing & Supply Chain activity.
• Create opportunities to leverage suppliers by driving proactive and collaborative monitoring of contracts.
• Develop knowledge & skills within the team through documenting key learnings.
• Achieve continuous improvement of procurement practice through effective record keeping and summarising lessons learned.
• Form working partnerships with external organisations, neighbouring Trusts and key stakeholders and across sectors.
• Support and maintain the development of the single Wessex NHS Procurement Limited catalogue management strategy.