Category Buyer
The closing date is 27 April 2026
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn
The post-holder is a key member of the Procurement Department and will be involved in the full cycle of contract development, procurement and management and will be responsible for maintaining effective working relationships providing commercial support to internal customers. They will undertake a wide range of procurement activities and assist in the development of the work plan and the delivery of the annual Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) target.
The post holder will be required to ensure appropriate, robust contracts are in place across all of the Trusts' services and that the service leads understand the procurement process. In addition, the post holder will have responsibility for managing, motivating and developing the Strategic Team ensuring delivery of a fast, efficient and best value service throughout the organisation in a challenging climate.
Main duties of the job
* Consult with suppliers' representatives on specific projects and contract management initiatives and explore innovative solutions with clinicians and managers that deliver the required benefits.
* Conduct meetings to agree procurement strategy, specifications, and compliant tender processes.
* Develop professional relationships with key suppliers through regular contact and contract management processes.
* Communicate procurement strategies, work plans, milestones, deliverables, and discuss/investigate compliance.
* Actively participate in complex procurement projects of high value including coordination, evaluation, risk registers as examples to ensure Trust policy adhered to.
* Extract information from relevant systems and utilise the data to create insight.
* Prioritise procurement activity in line with urgency, complexity, significance to Trust priorities.
* Prepare procurement documentation both quotation and high value (above threshold) tenders.
* Draft contracts following quotation and high value procurement tenders (with the support of Procurement Leadership).
* Work with finance and procurement leadership to ensure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements e.g., standing financial instructions and procurement regulations.
* Ensure that contract documentation is correct, terms and conditions are in place, and all information is entered into the appropriate system to meet audit requirements.
Job responsibilities
* Provide advice and guidance on all aspects of their specific category and service portfolio in a professional manner.
* Provide accurate and timely management information and category/contract performance information as required in support of the function.
* Champion the Trusts agreed contract creation and management processes and reporting requirements.
* Provide procurement guidance and advice on the Trusts commercial practices and standing financial instructions.
* Discuss complex procurement queries with Trust colleagues and suppliers and identify appropriate solutions.
* Communicate with organisations external to the Trusts, for example, with the regional Integrated Care System to ensure alignment of procurement activity.
* Resolve contractual problems as required e.g., contract disputes (with support of Procurement Leadership) and payment disputes.
* Ensure adherence to finance and procurement risk requirements e.g., standing financial instructions and English procurement regulations.
* Interpret Trust, regional and national guidance with regards to social value, green agenda and incorporate into procurement project activity ensuring the measures can be appropriately measured.
* Maintain audit records and clear electronic filing structures.
* Monitor contract management processes to ensure value for money is obtained and identify problems, recommend/take correct actions.
* Support Procurement Leadership in the development of sourcing policies and helping personnel as required.
* Ensure that data requested (e.g., product data for catalogues) is provided in a format that is suitable to be utilised in Trust p2p systems.
* Ensure compliance with Trust Standing Financial Instructions.
* Ensure that procurement activities meet the cash and non-cash requirements of the Trusts, e.g., cash releasing savings or non-cash benefits such as social value, green benefits are recorded and reportable.
* Work with and recommend improvements to the procurement dashboard to ensure that procurement benefit is maximised.
* Contribute a share of the Procurement department targets aligned to project activity for which responsible.
* Advises budget holders on procurement activities, costs, and performance reporting.
* Creation of and progression of Trust work plan agreed with stakeholders.
* Maintain all information governance and audit requirements.
* Respect the need for confidentiality during procurement processes.
About us
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is an award-winning NHS Trust that provides a wide range of healthcare services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We offer career development opportunities for both clinical and non‑clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
Person Specification
NHS Experience
* Roles
* CIPS Qualification
* CIP Delivery
* Procurement Act / PSR knowledge
Experience
* Sound Knowledge of PA23 & PSR
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.
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
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