Job overview
Title: Senior Buyer
Directorate: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, Finance
Band: 6
Responsible to: Senior Category Manager
Accountable to: Deputy Director - Procurement
Location: Acute Sites of the Members of the Partners Procurement Service. Main Location – Royal Free Hospital
Working Hours/Day: 7.5
Main duties of the job
To be professionally accountable for the procurement and delivery of projects, within PPS and partner trusts policies and procedures. To provide professional procurement advice to partner trusts, drive the category workload, ensure effective contract coverage and deliver savings in support of each trust’s cost reduction targets.
The role of the Senior Buyer encompasses the following:
1. To ensure that tendering and contract management activity delegated to the post is undertaken in accordance with Partner Trusts and PPS policies and procedures, Standing Financial Instructions and complies with EU procurement legislation;
2. Provide support and advice on developing contract and tender specifications to budget holders and other stakeholders, including management, technical, specialist and medical staff via face-to-face meetings, telecommunication, and email across the Partner Trusts.
3. Contribute to specifications and develop tender and contract documents, including establishing the evaluation matrix.
4. Where necessary, prepare written financial and administrative reports, including tender evaluations and tender reports for Trust Board / Chairman’s action, presenting recommendations on purchases, derived from the tender process, requiring Trust Board approval.
Please see the Job Description for further details
Working for our organisation
Partner Trusts have established the Partners Procurement Service (PPS) in order to improve their combined procurement effectiveness and deliver better value for money.
The participating Partner Trusts are:
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MEH)
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL)
The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust (WH)
PPS is jointly and equally owned by all partner trusts and is hosted by WH.
The rationale for the creation of PPS is to establish a shared service able to improve the quality of a wide range of procurement services, deliver more cost-effective procurement and supply chain solution and enhance the non-pay benefits to each trust.
PPS staff can be based on any of the trusts’ sites; travel is an essential part of the role due to the nature of the projects.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
5. Be responsible for information resources for allocated work streams including monthly progress reports and work and benefits plan updates;
6. Contribute towards the maintenance of the Partner Trusts product catalogue and supplier database;
7. To manage competitive procurement processes using the designated e-Tendering and e-Quotations systems, in compliance with policies, procedures and public procurement directives.
8. Be the point of contact for the partner trusts staff and suppliers for the categories and responsibilities delegated
9. Identify, initiate and participate in joint contracts/collaboration among the Partner Trusts where appropriate and/or beneficial.
10. Issue contract expiry alerts to Partner Trust stakeholders
11. Ensure that work plans, benefits plans, contracts registers and any other databases/systems are updated and maintained with all specified information in a timely manner.
12. Plan and co-ordinate purchasing and contract requirements.
13. Deliver benefits for the partner trusts, using the appropriate strategy and procurement techniques, which will include but not be limited to, the use of negotiation, contracts, agreements, consolidation, standardisation, seeking ‘best buy’ opportunities, considering alternative products/sources of supply,
14. Work with Logistics Managers to ensure correct product/supply route is implemented. Participate in Logistics projects as directed by PPS management,
Please see the Job Description for further details
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
15. CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply (or working towards it).
16. Qualification in public sector procurement regulations (PA 23)
17. Knowledge of applying NHS Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and governance to procurement processes
Desirable criteria
18. CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma or higher.
19. Training in negotiation and supplier relationship management.
20. Evidence of continuing professional development in procurement or supply chain management.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
21. Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in procurement or supply chain management, within a healthcare or public sector environment.
22. Proven experience in managing end-to-end procurement processes, including tendering, evaluation, and contract award.
23. Experience in working with suppliers and stakeholders to achieve value for money and compliance.
24. Experience in using e-procurement systems (eg Oracle, Evolve, Atamis, etc.)
25. Knowledge of framework agreements and collaborative procurement models. Including examples of specific experience in using them to procure organisation requirements.
Desirable criteria
26. Experience in category management and strategic sourcing.
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
27. Excellent negotiation skills – able to achieve best value while maintaining supplier relationships.
28. Strong IT skills – proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and e-procurement systems.
29. Analytical and problem-solving skills – capable of interpreting data and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
30. Effective communication skills – able to present information clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
Desirable criteria
31. Change champion – promotes innovation and continuous improvement.
32. Collaborative leader – fosters partnerships internally and externally.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
33. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
34. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
35. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
36. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
37. Participate in required training and supervision.
38. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.