About this role
Job summary
Wessex Procurement Limited (WPL) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Job Title: Senior Buyer
Contact: Permanent
Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Please note: This role is based at Royal Hants Hospital but may also require you to work from Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Main duties of the job
This is a great opportunity for a person starting a career within Procurement, you will have a good IT and Communication skills, keen to learn, enthusiastic and outgoing in a professional manner. Our aim is to work closer with the Procurement Managers and Specialist's developing negotiation skills, identifying items that could be catalogued so the buying process can be actioned more efficiently saving time & expense. If you have a sociable side, there is a team within WPL who arrange online quizzes and days out which you would be more than welcome to join in with.
As a Senior Buyer, you will manage a team of Buyers across UHS & HHFT to maximise cost improvement programme (CIP) benefits. You will also ensure all goods and services are ordered in accordance with laid down procedures including the processing of requisitions, orders and liaising with customers and suppliers to ensure best practice and best value. Supporting the Procurement Operations Lead, Buyers, and Strategic Procurement team in the delivery of work-plans arising from procurement strategy.
If this sounds like the role for you then I would encourage you to apply today. Feel free to reach out to me on or by email [email protected] . I wish you every success in your application.
About us
At WPL, we play a key role in supporting the NHS in Hampshire, delivering end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As a wholly owned subsidiary of both Trusts, WPL offers the opportunity to contribute to the wider NHS family and improve healthcare services across the region.
Our services include strategic sourcing, value creation, tendering, contract management, inventory oversight, distribution, and materials management across Southampton, Basingstoke, Winchester, and Andover. Joining WPL means being part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team, working alongside stakeholders to drive innovation, efficiency, and value.
Employee Benefits:o Generous NHS pension schemeo NHS terms of service and annual leaveo Access to an employee benefits platform offering discounts on groceries, high street shopping, family outings, holidays, and more
For more information, visit: www.wessexprocurement.nhs.uk
Southampton offers an excellent quality of life, located on the south coast with an international airport and direct train links to London. The area boasts the stunning New Forest National Park, beautiful beaches along the Jurassic Coast, and living costs around 20% lower than London. With 14 Ofsted-rated "Outstanding" schools, it's a great place to live and work.
Job description Job responsibilities
Main Duties:
Responsible for the Operations team to deliver a customer-focused and efficient service in the purchasing of goods and services.
Day to day to management of a team, including a range of HR procedures which may include attendance, performance and appraisals.
Undertaking training for the team in relevant procedures and processes. Ensuring procedures and processes are kept up to date.
Plays a key role in the induction and training of new staff.
Plans own workload and teams workload to ensure all order requests are processed, queries resolved, and catalogues reviewed as required
Ensures all reports are produced for line manager within specific time frames
Budget and Resource management .
Support the team with CIP opportunities and catalogue management.
Responsible for recording savings made using appropriate procedures
Responsible for sourcing suppliers for goods and services in line with user department requirements.
Training of Trust staff on e-procurement tools.
Communication
Negotiates with suppliers and other external organizations to maximize value for money and cost improvement opportunities
To communicate with suppliers to provide specific information in the form of a pre-purchase questionnaire in relation to procedures for purchasing medical equipment
Establish, maintain, and manage supplier relationships where appropriate
Provide support and assistance for charity / donation purchases and work with Finance and Charity departments to ensure all purchases are aligned with Trust protocol
Communicate delays and discrepancies with customers, ensuring they are handled efficiently and appropriately
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
To assess customer requirements for appropriate method of ordering and distribution (i.e., urgency/quality/price/supply route etc)
Analyses financial and purchasing data to determine best value for money option
To assess problem situations and determine in conjunction with customer or supplier the most appropriate method of resolution
To understand and analyse spend information on specific products or services and relay the information to customers
Identifies opportunities for contracting or tendering.
Work closely with user departments to review goods and services purchased
Policy and Service Development
Works according to laid down policies and procedures, suggesting amendments where feasible.
Monitors supplier performance against contract KPIs (costs, quality, delivery timescales etc) and standing orders in conjunction with user departments.
Assists the procurement lead with the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures
Information Resources
Enters data onto purchase ordering system and ensures orders are processed as per procedures
Produces data on pricing information for comparison and informs customers
Checks stock and availability information, ensuring goods are ordered using the appropriate method
Ensure contract documentation compliance using the contracts register
Uses e-tendering, contract and supplier management tool to undertake and manage mini competitions
Facilitates and supports continuous improvement in Catalogue system
Research and Development
Audits and surveys operations team work activities to ensure compliance with targets
Undertakes market analysis to identify alternative suppliers which are able to offer the trust cost efficiencies with no detrimental clinical impact.
Guides customers with regards to obtaining value for money within financial and purchasing procedures
Discusses and agrees solutions to order/delivery queries with customers and suppliers
To communicate any discrepancies in relation to products and services ordered with customers and category leads
Establish, maintain and manage internal stakeholder relationships to ensure effective service delivery
Person Specification
Qualifications / training required Essential
CIPS Foundation Diploma in Purchasing & Supply (level 3) or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge skills and experience Passed GCSE Mathematics and English
Desirable
Member of CIPS or equivalent
Previous or relevant experience necessary Essential
Previous experience of buying in a procurement environment Market and supplier / product knowledge including Procedures, catalogue management and contract law Track record of achieving cost reductions Previous experience in a customer service environment Experience in supporting the management of team members
Desirable
Procure to Pay system knowledge Vendor management Supply chain knowledge
Requirements Desirable
Training experience Working knowledge of public sector procurement processes Experience supervising or line managing staff
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Wessex Procurement Limited
Address Royal South Hants Hospital (see Job Overview)
Brintons Terrace
Southampton
SO14 0YG
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://jobs.uhs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)