Job summary
The Category Support Officer will work as part of the Procurement Team to ensure that the purchase of all goods and services are undertaken in the most efficient and effective manner across Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust (MWL), whilst adhering to the Trust(s) standing financial instructions and corporate governance procedures.
To ensure that the MWL organisations deploy robust procurement practices that ensure compliance with the public procurement legislative framework, local procurement and financial policies and procedures and best practice procurement.
Main duties of the job
1. To ensure the best possible goods and services are provided to our patients and colleagues, ensuring we deliver 5 Star Patient Care
2. To ensure that non-pay expenditure across MWL organisations is used effectively and provides the best value for money.
3. To analyse and effectively interpret data from a number of sources in order to increase contract coverage and maximise savings and efficiency for specified categories of goods and services.
4. To work extensively with service managers, clinicians and budget holders to increase contract coverage and identify opportunities for efficiencies and savings from the non-pay spend budget.
5. To work closely with business and clinical colleagues across all MWL organisations to undertake procurement activity which will deliver innovation, meets local, national and regional green agendas whilst delivering value and quality to patient care.
6. To be responsible for the identification, management and delivery of a range of savings initiatives through the annual Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) workplan,
7. To lead and manage a range of procurement projects.
8. To conduct, manage and evaluate tenders under the Public Contract Regulations, local tenders and mini competitions.
9. To facilitate negotiations and contract monitoring with companies of strategic importance to the Trust.
10. To support the Senior Procurement Manager and Category Manager on high value and complex procurement projects.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Provide dedicated support to the MWL Strategic Procurement Team in the identification of initiatives and the delivery of MWL Procurement Workplan /CIP Plans.
Undertake and deliver an agreed portfolio of purchasing projects in achievement of contract coverage and the annual savings target.
Self- management of performance for projects against agreed deliverables.
Lead and manage tendering exercises (above public procurement threshold, local tenders, RFQs and mini competitions) for a range of goods and services.
Re-negotiation of contracts.
Lead negotiations with strategic suppliers in terms of contract performance management, price negotiation and business continuity.
To build long term strategic relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
To carry out supplier performance reviews/appraisals in line with contract monitoring/management.
To write procurement reports for stakeholders at various levels (that may be presented at Committee and Board reports).
To provide procurement support to the Senior Procurement Manager and Category Manager on high value and complex procurement projects.
To deputise for the Category Manager and Senior Procurement Manager.
To liaise with service managers, finance, clinical, nursing, technical and administration staff across MWL organisations to advise them on the most appropriate supply routes, and on public contract regulations, national and local procurement framework and procedures.
Contribute to the development of procurement capability across MWL organisations through pre-planned training sessions and presentations to staff.
The organisation and planning of your workload in accordance with priorities of the MWL Procurement Service.
To maintain knowledge and practical application of the legislative framework and national/local initiatives that affect the procurement landscape.
To maintain an in-depth knowledge of the supply market and have regular dialogue with existing and potential suppliers to ensure business continuity and the mitigation of supply chain risks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Provide dedicated support to the MWL Strategic Procurement Team in the identification of initiatives and the delivery of MWL Procurement Workplan /CIP Plans.
Undertake and deliver an agreed portfolio of purchasing projects in achievement of contract coverage and the annual savings target.
Self- management of performance for projects against agreed deliverables.
Lead and manage tendering exercises (above public procurement threshold, local tenders, RFQs and mini competitions) for a range of goods and services.
Re-negotiation of contracts.
Lead negotiations with strategic suppliers in terms of contract performance management, price negotiation and business continuity.
To build long term strategic relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
To carry out supplier performance reviews/appraisals in line with contract monitoring/management.
To write procurement reports for stakeholders at various levels (that may be presented at Committee and Board reports).
To provide procurement support to the Senior Procurement Manager and Category Manager on high value and complex procurement projects.
To deputise for the Category Manager and Senior Procurement Manager.
To liaise with service managers, finance, clinical, nursing, technical and administration staff across MWL organisations to advise them on the most appropriate supply routes, and on public contract regulations, national and local procurement framework and procedures.
Contribute to the development of procurement capability across MWL organisations through pre-planned training sessions and presentations to staff.
The organisation and planning of your workload in accordance with priorities of the MWL Procurement Service.
To maintain knowledge and practical application of the legislative framework and national/local initiatives that affect the procurement landscape.
To maintain an in-depth knowledge of the supply market and have regular dialogue with existing and potential suppliers to ensure business continuity and the mitigation of supply chain risks.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent experience (5 GCSE 'O' Levels Grade C or above)
- CIPS Level 4 or strong evidence of working towards, or equivalent qualification
- Experience of Microsoft Office (ie be able to do 'pivots' and 'look ups
Desirable
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Project Management Qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a Procurement Department
- In depth knowledge and experience of electronic purchase order systems
- Knowledge and experience of high value Procurement- having assisted or worked on PCR2015 value tenders
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to motivate themselves and colleagues to achieve objectives
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to co-ordinate work
- Ability to adhere to confidentiality
- Able to be flexible in approach to working hours
- Good communication skills - in an often busy and unpredictable environment - verbal, written, IT
- Good time management skills
- Able to work under own initiative and be innovative
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
- Commitment to self-development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent experience (5 GCSE 'O' Levels Grade C or above)
- CIPS Level 4 or strong evidence of working towards, or equivalent qualification
- Experience of Microsoft Office (ie be able to do 'pivots' and 'look ups
Desirable
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Project Management Qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a Procurement Department
- In depth knowledge and experience of electronic purchase order systems
- Knowledge and experience of high value Procurement- having assisted or worked on PCR2015 value tenders
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to motivate themselves and colleagues to achieve objectives
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload
- Ability to co-ordinate work
- Ability to adhere to confidentiality
- Able to be flexible in approach to working hours
- Good communication skills - in an often busy and unpredictable environment - verbal, written, IT
- Good time management skills
- Able to work under own initiative and be innovative
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
- Commitment to self-development
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.
