Job Overview
Exciting opportunity to join a newly established procurement service as a Category Buyer. NHS Devon Procurement Service (DPS) brings together expertise and buying power across Devon to deliver better value, stronger contracts, and improved outcomes for patients.
* Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
* University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
* Livewell Community Services
The role is varied, offering daily challenges and opportunities to grow as a procurement professional within a well‑respected, high‑performing team. The main responsibility is to manage procurement activity for designated categories of spend across multiple hospital and NHS sites.
Hybrid and flexible working is offered with office bases in Exeter, Barnstaple, Torbay, and Plymouth. Occasional travel across Devon will be required.
Previous applicants for this role in the last 3 months should not apply.
Responsibilities
* Support the delivery of the procurement Category Management (CM) non‑pay savings programme that informs the wider Procurement and Logistics strategy.
* Ensure all procurement is conducted in line with the procurement CM model.
* Source goods and services to ensure value for money, meet stakeholder needs and comply with corporate governance and UK legislation.
* Provide procurement and commercial advice to internal customers and the broader Devon healthcare network.
* Maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure performance and value, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to align category strategies with organisational goals.
* Establish and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including collaborative partners, NHS Supply Chain, suppliers, and other NHS Trusts.
* Present, explain, and defend commercial information in support of sourcing decisions.
* Use communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to engage staff and ensure agreement is reached, minimising the level of procurement activity not subject to a full tender.
* Build and maintain the reputation of the procurement service as a professional service with effective business partnering.
* Demonstrate transparency to the procurement service, its Partner Trusts, and supplier organisations to maximise reputation and mitigate risks.
Qualifications and Experience
* Proven knowledge of professional purchasing principles, acquired through a degree or Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) qualification (e.g., CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply), or equivalent training and demonstrable experience.
* Evidence of NHS and/or wider public‑sector procurement training programmes.
* Evidence of professional development through workshops, seminars, and courses related to category management.
* MCIPS qualification or working towards MCIPS.
Person Specification
* Skilled in analysing complex data sets to provide concise insights.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, able to positively engage at multiple levels.
* Ability to carry out budget management duties, including administering and monitoring a project budget and/or being a budget holder for projects.
* Strong project leadership and management capabilities, with experience managing multiple small and medium‑sized projects.
* Demonstrable experience of producing tenders, requests for quotations, tender evaluations, and drafting contracts.
* Good level of stakeholder management experience in a customer and results‑focused environment.
* Experience in negotiation and implementation of purchasing agreements.
* Experience working within a large clinical setting and an understanding of current issues.
* Knowledge and understanding of Trust procedures, including Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders.
* Experience supervising support staff, training staff, and managing a team of staff; able to provide training to stakeholders on own project to clinicians, management, and staff at all levels.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Disclosure will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply, as diversity strengthens our teams.
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