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Job overview

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

To learn more about us, visit www.wessexprocurement.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your Main 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 vale-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

Qualifications/ Training Required

Essential criteria

• 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

Desirable criteria

• Project Management experience or equivalent qualification
• Experience of working within the public sector and working knowledge of regulations
• Membership of CIPS

Previous or Relevant Experience Necessary

Essential criteria

• 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

Desirable criteria

• Experience and training in contract management
• Proactive category management experience
• Presentation skills

Aptitudes and skills required

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate complex information persuasively
• Strong negotiation skills
• 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

Our commitment to you:

We are committed to equality and diversity in both the provision of our services and how we recruit and manage our staff. Applications are encouraged from everyone with the necessary attributes for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.

Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.

The paperwork:

• HHFT is committed to putting the safety and care of our patients first - as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues. Therefore, we would recommend that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you understand that we are treating COVID-19 positive patients within our services.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted at least 5 working days before the scheduled interview date. Applications will be submitted directly into our preferred third party recruitment system (Trac). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs via email - please ensure to check your junk/spam folders.
• All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
• In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process.
• This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. If you intend to apply you are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
• We believe that using technology wisely reflects strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, it's essential to personalise your recruitment application to showcase your unique skills and experiences. Over-reliance on generic, AI-generated content may result in rejection if multiple candidates submit applications with similar language or structure. In such cases, recruiting managers may reach out for further clarity where applications appear consistent with others, to better understand your individual strengths.

Tackling Climate Change: Hampshire Hospitals aims to embed sustainability and net zero carbon principles into the delivery of care across all its services. To find out more, search HHFT Climate Action or contactclimateaction@hhft.nhs.uk.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Candidate Pack (PDF, 800.5KB)
• Tackling Climate Change at Hampshire Hospitals (PDF, 4.9MB)