Strategic Procurement and Contracts Manager

The post holder will form an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team in DHCW's Commercial Services. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and managing high profile digital procurement and contracting activities via a portfolio-based approach and in accordance with a demanding programme of work. The post-holder will lead a small team and will therefore be responsible for ensuring and enabling their ongoing development, maximising the team's professional skills and expertise in a changing and complex environment.

Main duties of the job

• There is significant freedom to act within this role and the post holder is expected to adjust to significant and sudden variations in workload.
• The post holder will need to be able to work in an agile manner, effectively managing procurement and contracting risk and resolving complex problems.
• Working with a wider range of stakeholders at a Senior Level, the post holder will need to demonstrate a high level of resilience, tact and diplomacy.
• On a day-to-day basis, the post holder is given the freedom to achieve objectives/timescales working within broad professional policies.
• The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is an expert national body and part of NHS Wales. We work in partnership with NHS Wales colleagues and other key stakeholders to provide national digital and data services which support the delivery of health and social care in Wales. Modern health and care services depend on good digital tools, data and information. DHCW runs or works with more than 100 services and delivers major national digital transformation programmes to support this. In addition, DHCW provides expert advice in relation to cyber security and information governance. We give frontline staff the digital tools which help them provide safer and more efficient care. We are also giving patients and the public digital tools to better manage their own health and wellbeing, empowering people to live healthier lives. We put people at the heart of what we do, working to the highest standards to deliver quality and make digital a force for good in health and care. Working for DHCW offers lots of employee benefits, including flexible working, a competitive salary, 28 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays and opportunities for career development. We are committed to recognising and celebrating our staff as the most valuable part of our organisation.

Job responsibilities

• Drafting and executing commercial strategies for a range of digital products and services across the contract lifecycle and manage a small team of procurement professionals, ensuring delivery of key benefits in accordance with Business Case and Business Plan objectives.
• Manage Contract portfolios in an effective and compliant manner, ensuring the execution, renewal, modification and exit of agreements are in line with procurement regulations.
• Ensure agreements achieve value for money and identify opportunities to improve quality using benchmarking etc.
• Develop effective relationships with suppliers to ensure service risks are identified and addressed.
• Undertake corrective action should suppliers underperform against KPIs and SLAs.
• Provide specialist knowledge about DHCW, its Services, Projects and suppliers.
• Deliver expert briefings, updates and assistance as required at both strategic and operational levels.
• Provide specialist representation in meetings with suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Deliver training to key internal stakeholders to ensure awareness and understanding of DHCWs processes, policies and governance.
• Monitor and research external sources such as regulatory related publications, the media, market research data and best practice guidance.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience, preferably in a Business related subject.
• Evidence of post graduate development - education and/or training and CPD or equivalent experience.
• Specialist knowledge of contract law / EU legislation to support Public procurement.
• Understand business benefits supporting introduction of e-strategies, including e-tendering.
• Knowledge of Health Board Procurement Processes/ procedures.
• Knowledge of NHS and government policies, and the political and economic climate within which healthcare is delivered.
• The post holder will be expected to provide a highly specialist knowledge base about DHCW, its Services, Projects and related suppliers / markets and to provide expert briefings, updates and assistance, as required at both strategic and operational levels.
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) qualified or equivalent qualification and/or experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the NHS, or other healthcare systems and services, including the political, strategic, and operational environments in which they operate.

Experience

• In depth experience in managing commercial relationships and contracts.
• Expertise in procurement and contract management, obtained via further training and/or relevant experience.
• Proven experience of leading complex and/or high value procurement activity on time and within budget.
• Experience of project planning and ability to meet deadlines, including participating, and coordinating costings and purchases in line with agreed revenue and capital projects.
• Knowledge of how the NHS in Wales is organised.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills when dealing with highly complex and sensitive information to and from a wide range of stakeholders on commercial issues across organisational boundaries.
• Understanding of a range of contractual constructs including common NHS Ts&Cs.
• Experience of resource planning and management, including the use of appropriate tools and techniques.
• Capable of understanding the wider objectives of DHCW and its context within current Welsh Government policy and strategic direction.
• Understanding of the structures and key stakeholders within NHS Wales.

Skills and Attributes

• Capable of understanding the wider objectives of the organisation and its context within current Assembly policy and strategic direction.
• Good written skills able to assimilate complex ideas/material and argue cases in a clear persuasive way.
• Strong influencing with significant experience/negotiating skills, a good builder of productive relationships.
• Ability to demonstrate sound analytical reasoning, effective decision making and an ability to identify and manage risks.
• IT Proficiency particularly in the use of Microsoft Office products e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams etc.
• Commitment to supporting the organisation's mission to encourage and embrace diversity and inclusion across the NHS.
• Requirement to demonstrate and embed the Values and Behaviours of the organisation, including the Compassionate Leadership Principles for Health and Social Care in Wales.
• Able to work flexibly in a hybrid working environment.
• Travel throughout Wales between sites, as required by the job.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.