Head of Procurement

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

Responsible for the strategic and operational procurement teams of Health Procurement Liverpool. Providing strategic procurement advice that ensures value for money, quality of service and continuous improvement in the procurement process with responsibility for planning, developing and promoting a Trust policy that ensures a safe and positive environment for both the patient journey and staff workplace. The post holder will be responsible for contributing to the development and influencing of the Trusts procurement strategy and utilising procurement networks to develop collaborative procurement where this is of benefit to the organisations.

Responsible for the ongoing development of procurement team members and the education of stakeholders on procurement processes and procedures.

Represents HPL at local, regional and national events and ensures best practice recommendations are embedded throughout procurement processes and activities.

Actively promotes the collaborative procurement service and works to ensure that strategic and long term relationships are formed and maintained with all internal and external stakeholders. Supports in the development, embedding and ongoing delivery of procurement strategies for all related procurement activities.

Key responsibilities

MAIN TASKS / OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Principle duties & accountability

A). Team Management

1. To be responsible for the strategic and operational procurement teams of health procurement Liverpool, managing the Purchasing and logistics/customer services teams (see organisational chart) including recruitment, personal development planning, appraisal, performance management, objective setting and day to day supervision.

2. Responsibility for integrated procurement work plans taking into account the priorities and requirements of the Trust(s) and the resources availability to deliver these projects within the respective organisations and within the procurement team.

3. Ensure all staff within the department attend annual mandatory training courses in Health & Safety, Fire Safety and Manual Handling etc.

4. To ensure that the departments objectives are in line with the Trust(s) strategic direction.

5. To establish and monitor key performance indicators for the department.

6. To ensure that the use of Information Technology contributes to improving the processes employed within the department.

7. To provide strategic advice on performance and functionality of the Trusts Procurement systems in meeting user needs.

8. Maintain key relationships with the Senior Finance Team(s) to ensure an up-to-date understanding of overall Trust financial strategy.

9. To ensure that the Procurement Department maintains and improves its standing within the region through the promotion and attainment of the highest level of Procurement development.

10. Integrating the annual work plans with the Trusts strategic plan to achieve a medium to long term plan for procurement development with a rolling detailed operational delivery plan established and delivered.

11. Be an active role model for the collaborative procurement service both internally and externally.

12. Ensure that any feedback on procurement services is proactively addressed and to keep the Chief Procurement Officer informed on any issues/concerns.

B). Professional Purchasing Advice

13. To be the professional lead on procurement for the trusts included in Health Procurement Liverpool and support the Chief Procurement Officer with the development, maintenance and deployment of the Trusts procurement strategy.

14. Develop procurement policies in line with the Trust Corporate Governance Manual ensuring compliance with Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and the Scheme of Delegation for all organisations included in the collaboration. Implementing associated policies throughout the organisations thus ensuring best practice is extended across the Trust(s).

15. To work with clinical and finance staff in order to advise on the delivery of quality Improvement Programmes and supporting subsequent negotiations with suppliers. Promote objectives of effective budgetary management and business planning in order to aid delivery of procurement savings as outlined in the strategy.

16. To provide leadership and advice to project teams to ensure that sound procurement principles are being applied.

17. To undertake negotiation of contracts where there may be highly complex choices that require full analysis of options (both financial and non-financial). Obtain full customer support before recommendations are made to the Executive Team/Trust Board or other required committees.

18. Provide professional advice and support to trust clinicians and managers and all involved in commercial activity.

19. Develop a close working relationship between the Trust(s) and their supplier base, ensuring performance standards are consistently achieved and remedial action is recommended/ taken where necessary.

20. Use influencing and negotiating skills in order to challenge existing practices and contractual arrangements through discussion with both Clinicians/Senior Trust staff and Suppliers to ensure appropriate future contractual agreements are entered into.

21. Developing, implementing and maintaining information to capture demand, analysis, business to business trading, contractual management, catalogue management and product control.

22. To provide high level advice to colleagues on contractual matters including terms and conditions and highlighting any risks as appropriate.

23. To prepare and present regular management reports updating the Trust(s) on the delivery of the Procurement Strategy, cost savings and key performance indicators.

C). Strategic & Operational Purchasing

24. To manage the relationships with the various external agencies and ensuring their performance realises mutual strategic aims.

25. To lead on-going reviews of the supply chain within the Trust(s) and seek new sources of supply to ensure that purchasing of all goods and services remains cost effective.

26. Collaborate with other NHS Trusts on behalf of HPL in establishing confederation status in order to implement best value purchasing, e-commerce initiatives, best practise solutions, performance measurement, supply chain efficiencies, training and development initiatives. Advise senior management at the Trust with regard to potential changes in external environment (e.g. national procurement agendas).

27. Identify opportunities for further service development/enhancement and implement proposals. Lead change to support the continued rationalisation and standardisation of products and services.

28. Develop key strategic alliances with suppliers in order to enhance the value of products / services to the Trust(s) which help to contribute towards sustainable relationships between the Trust and its suppliers.

29. To be a key figure in reviewing opportunities to deliver efficiencies within the Trusts purchasing strategy and contribute to the Trust(s) overall annual savings target.

30. To keep up to speed with the national Procurement agenda and ensure that the Trust(s) are up to date with all national legislation and directives and is at the forefront in responding appropriately to the national agenda.

31. Support with the development of business cases for investments in procurement systems;

32. To ensure the smooth implementation of new and innovative systems that support quality and efficiency benefits in procurement activities.

D). Patient Environment

33. Ensure HPL has policies, systems and procedures in place to meet national requirements and standards in relation to the Patient Environment.

34. Establish and maintain regular reporting mechanisms so these can be presented to Trust Boards and committees as appropriate.

35. Ensure that financial and budgetary responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the Trusts Corporate Governance Manual(s) (with particular emphasis upon working knowledge of the application of Standing Financial Instructions).

36. Contribute to the development of procurement related policies such as Sustainability and Green agendas as well as supporting with procurement advice for other departments initiatives such as waste management.

Comply with the purchasing and supply CIPS code of conduct'

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience in a public sector procurement environment at a senior level and a track record of achievement
• Fully conversant with the application of EU/UK procurement legislation and procurement contract law
• Experience of contract/supplier management
• Evidence of on-going professional development
• Projects and personnel management experience
• Experience of using a range of computer packages /applications
• Budget management experience
• Awareness of the impact on organisations of Standards for Better Health
• Excellent interpersonal skills including confident manner with good communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met.
• Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
• Thorough understanding of current best practice in all aspects of supply chain management
• Proven influencing and negotiation skills, demonstrating tact and diplomacy as required.
• Proven leadership skills to support staff and ability to coach others.
• Ablity to support with specification writing.
• Committed to raising standards in health care, with particular focus on the Patient Environment and Customer Service
• High level of personal professionalism. Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all professional colleagues.
• Can use initiative to develop new ways of working to provide solutions to problem issues.
• Able to identify and manage critical issues as they arise.
• Committed to personal development.
• Share expert skills and knowledge with colleagues and influence outcomes accordingly.
• Ability to work flexibly across all health procurement Liverpool sites.

Desirable

• Defining and monitoring SLAs
• A thorough understanding of the current / future NHS agenda in Procurement.

Qualifications

Essential

• CIPS Membership by exam and / or Educated to degree level or equivalent.

Desirable

• Project management qualification.

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Walton Centre

Lower Lane

Liverpool

L9 7LJ

Employer's website

https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)