Procurement Specialist - Pathology in Southampton

Wessex NHS Procurement Limited is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. This role will be based at Royal South Hants Hospital. Please note WPL does not hold a Home Office Workers Licence and therefore unable to offer sponsorship. Open only to applicants from Hampshire & Isle of Wight NHS system, which is limited to Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, Southern Health FT, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, University Hospital Southampton FT, Solent NHS Trust, South Central Ambulance Service or Hampshire Hospitals FT.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will lead on a portfolio of procurement contracts and projects across various category areas and be responsible for the purchase of goods and services.
• You will foster a professional and responsive client service and build collaborative relationships with all stakeholders to deliver your work plans.
• A key member of the team, the Procurement Specialist will work closely with Procurement Managers and others within the team to deliver on a challenging cost improvement programme by implementing change, collaborating with the team and identifying opportunities to drive greater value.

About us:

At WPL we play a vital role for the NHS in Hampshire providing end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Wholly owned by both Trusts, at WPL you'll be part of the larger NHS family and contributing to improving healthcare across the region. Our services include strategic sourcing, value creation, tendering, contract and inventory management, distribution and materials management for hospitals in Southampton, Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover. You'll be part of a dynamic and like-minded team working with stakeholders on challenging targets to drive innovation, value and efficiency from procurement and supply. To recognise and reward your contribution, we provide a range of great staff benefits. You'll be eligible for a generous NHS pension scheme as well as all standard NHS terms of service and annual leave. Our employee benefits platform offers you discounts on a range of items, from the weekly grocery shop, high street shopping, days out with the family, and even holidays.

Job responsibilities:

• Lead procurement processes by delivering a portfolio of contracts and the implementation of effective risk management processes.
• Work as a senior member of the procurement team participating in the development and implementation of complex procurement strategies.
• Lead tenders and supplier relationships, taking a lead in supplier meetings, pre and post-tender.
• Commercial management of specific category areas and lead procurement-responsibility for a defined selection of projects, working directly with senior stakeholders.
• Pro-actively review and develop selected areas of non-pay spend and plan, design and implement the best value-for-money contracts, aligned to WPL's strategy.
• Deputise and assume responsibility to resolve issues in the absence of the Procurement Manager.
• Negotiate with suppliers and service users to ensure optimum value, and value for money through transparent decision making.
• Deliver and prioritise new projects and continue to contract manage and renew existing arrangements.
• Deliver excellent levels of customer service, resolving queries and complaints promptly.
• Develop effective ways of working and create strong partnerships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Build collaborative relationships.
• Proactively contribute to the delivery of targets through both individual and team efforts, while managing and controlling risk.
• Ensure that projects are delivered to a high-quality standard, to specification, on time and on budget.
• Assist the Procurement Managers to write and implement tender procedures and policies.
• Build and sustain effective communications with internal and external customers, facilitate discussions and field questions, listen to concerns and suggestions from all.
• Ability to challenge stakeholder assumptions and behaviours, where required, to realign with commercial and risk reduction interests of the client trusts.
• Supervise and support the junior procurement staff within the team.

Strategic Purchasing & Supply Chain Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement innovative ways to evaluate tenders to release savings.
• Create opportunities through the proactive and collaborative monitoring of contracts.
• Increase the level of knowledge and skills within the team through documenting key learnings and support others to develop their professional abilities.
• Form working relationships with government departments, national agencies and key stakeholders internationally, nationally, regionally and across multiple sectors.

Contract Development and Management:

• Provide specialist procurement knowledge across a broad range of categories.
• Purchase goods and services by delivering a portfolio of complex and high-value contracts supported by the Procurement Manager.
• Develop new and innovative methods of maximising savings and other added-value benefits.
• Produce Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) advertisements, complex tender and contract documentation for an agreed portfolio of contracts.
• Work closely with service users to ensure that complete, accurate and relevant specifications and weighting criteria are developed.
• Offer commercial and contractual advice and guidance to all divisions as required.
• Attend and lead tender adjudication meetings, acting as chairperson or secretary and provide procurement support throughout.
• Prepare and analyse evaluation methodologies, business cases, savings reports, opportunities reports and sourcing plans.
• Take an active role in the development and delivery of the annual procurement work plan, identifying areas for further savings and added value.
• Support the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures.
• Use an electronic tendering portal for all tendering activities.
• Ensure that the procurement workplan is always up to date.
• Make assessments and advise the Procurement Manager of the best value-for-money options.

Person Specification:

• Postgraduate diploma in Purchasing & Supply or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Expertise in Contract Management and EU Procurement obtained through further formal training and significant experience.
• Knowledge of professional purchasing principles.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Experience of working within the public sector and working knowledge of regulations.
• Membership of CIPS.
• Previous or relevant experience necessary.
• Significant experience of negotiating with suppliers and customers in a large organisation and a track record of achieving significant cost reductions.
• Demonstrable experience of competitive tenders/quotations.
• Significant experience of negotiating contracts, with adding value activities.
• Sound knowledge of procurement law and contract management to be able to provide specialist advice.
• Experience of complex competitive tenders/quotations.
• Evidence to demonstrate new and innovative methods of achieving savings.
• Experience and training in contract management.
• Proactive category management experience.

Aptitudes and skills required:

• Ability to communicate complex information persuasively.
• Competent with word, excel and purchasing and inventory software.
• Interpersonal, able to work as part of a large team.
• Able to use initiative and work independently.
• Well organised, able to prioritise workload.
• Good knowledge of systems and quality control processes.

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.

Depending on experience £38,682 - £46,580 per annum or per annum pro rata.