Thank you for your interest in this vacancy We highly recommend reading our Tips on how to apply page to give you an insight on how applications are scored & shortlisted by our Recruiting Managers. These tips have been provided to give you a better chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies. Please note that if you apply for a position with North Bristol NHS Trust, you may be contacted via TRAC or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your TRAC Account and email accounts including junk and spam folders. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this. Job Overview This role is for a Senior Purchasing Specialist. If you’d like an exciting challenge with an emerging and evolving Procurement Team; can demonstrate a tenacious, strategic mind-set along with the ability to juggle a number of projects involving a variety of stakeholders whilst pushing the boundaries of effective public-sector wide collaborative procurement then there has never been a better time to join us at BWPC. The procurement team at BWPC delivers of procurement service to two large acute NHS Trusts in Bristol, developing and supporting delivery of their procurement strategies, offering professional advice and delivering cost savings through sustainable procurement. You will set procurement strategies and lead on procurements for a range products through working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to ensure commercial and contractual measures are in place. Key Performance Areas Procurement strategy development: Specific procurement policy and procedure alignment and category sourcing process development. Procurement strategy execution: Specific end user requirements identification, coordination and supply service delivery. Supply base management: Supply base optimisation, market knowledge assimilation, analysis and application. Stakeholder relationship management: Procurement stakeholder relationship development. People management and leadership: Local procurement team leadership, capacity building and performance management. Main duties of the job Procurement strategy development: Procurement policy, procedure alignment and category sourcing process development Procurement strategy execution: Site-specific end user requirements identification, coordination and supply service delivery Supply base management: Supply base optimisation, market knowledge assimilation, analysis and application Stakeholder relationship management: Local procurement stakeholder relationship development People management and leadership: Supports Category Manager with team leadership, capacity building and performance coaching Working for our organisation The procurement team at BWPC delivers of procurement service to two large acute NHS Trusts in Bristol, developing and supporting delivery of their procurement strategies, offering professional advice and delivering cost savings through sustainable procurement. Our main office location is in Southmead Hospital. Senior Purchasing Specialists are expected to travel to client and supplier locations where necessary. NBT Cares. It’s a very simple statement; one which epitomises how everybody across our organisation goes the extra mile to ensure our patients get the best possible care. NBT Cares is also an acronym, standing for caring, ambitious, r e spectful and supportive – our organisational values. And our NBT Cares values are underpinned by our positive behaviours framework – a framework that provides clear guidance on how colleagues can work with one another in a constructive and supportive way. Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities Procurement strategy development: Procurement policy, procedure alignment and category sourcing process development Provides support to the senior managers in developing the contract portfolio. In accordance with above establishes and maintains a needs-based segmented supply base. Ensures that current and developed sourcing practices and processes conform to overall trust and national procurement policies. Establishes local measures to ensure end user conformance to policies and procedures. Where necessary trains end users in the application of these procedures. Handles all queries and issues relating to specific procurement processes and procedures. Observes and enforces purchasing ethics. Ensures adherence to and understanding of purchasing policies and procedures in order that purchasing standards are upheld. Suggests and works with senior colleagues on process improvements e.g. Introduction of more efficient working methods and is responsible for the implementation and adherence on site. Under the guidance of the senior colleagues implements systems to monitor supplier performance and informs the procurement manager of this performance. Procurement strategy execution: Site-specific end user requirements identification, coordination and supply service delivery Liaise closely with the end-users in determining their requirements so as to provide early input into the sourcing process. Negotiates local or regional contracts in conjunction with the relevant category tower. Advises end users of suitable items of acceptable quality at the most cost effective prices. Raises the spend visibility of items purchased to enable their placement on contract. Ensures that end-users requirements are sufficiently detailed in an appropriate format Accountable for the timely delivery of procurement projects, including implementation, contractual delivery, also ensuring associated catalogue management and ordering processes are agreed to support an efficient requisition to pay process. Follows up on all outstanding orders and takes appropriate action. Invoke conditions of purchase against defaulting suppliers. Identify/action cost reduction programmes/procedures. Administers the tendering system. Assumes overall authority and accountability for the buying function including specifying the type, quality and volume of categories ordered. Compiles and submits monthly work reports to the procurement manager. Supply base management: Supply base optimisation, market knowledge assimilation, analysis and application Analyses data related to macro environment, market sectors, suppliers and categories. Reviews prices in market place and develops knowledge on industry characteristics and trends in order to optimise organisational operational expenditure (opex) spend. Monitors changes/new developments/operating conditions/market capacity and quality issues. Undertakes or arranges ad-hoc purchasing studies or investigations into suppliers, materials and costs where appropriate. Builds cost models to determine the should-cost and total cost of ownership (TCO) of supplier commodities to support supplier negotiations. Recommends potential sources of supply from knowledge of market, existing supplier service levels, and competitive sources of supply. Introduces new suppliers to the business as appropriate and proactively investigates opportunities to take advantage of developments within the supply market. Takes cognisance of and action requests from end-users and suppliers for the adding and/or removal of items to contracts and informs contract management accordingly. Develops and implements strategies for negotiations with suppliers. Elevates certain activities to procurement specialists on categories that strategic category management is actively handling. Works within the business supply chain policy and procedure framework to optimise the organisation’s supply base. Gives due consideration to recommendations from key stakeholders with regards to social and economic considerations. Stakeholder relationship management: Local procurement stakeholder relationship development Promotes interaction between end-users and suppliers to ensure supplier development and appreciation of end-user requirements. Establishes and maintains effective supplier relationships with suppliers, so that the benefits of better communication and understanding may be reaped by the company. Monitors supplier delivery and quality performance and reports findings to the procurement manager. Addresses performance issues with suppliers where appropriate. Keeps the end-users informed regarding the latest issues involving their requirements and the influences that external forces could have on their situation. Liaise with end users/stakeholders. Facilitates communication and information flow between end-users and the supply market. Identifies benchmarking opportunities. People management and leadership: Supports Category Manager with team leadership, capacity building and performance coaching Aligns team goals/ways of working and approach to overall procurement strategy and plans team tasks/work schedule according to priorities. Delegates work to colleagues as appropriate and provides guidance on how purchase requisitions should be tackled. Provides local training of support staff where required. Initiates and develops standard procedures and methods catering for the effective performance of the buying team. Ensure systems, policies and procedure adherence. Motivates and coaches site based team as appropriate. Embeds the team communication approach. Person specification Education/Training/Qualifications Essential criteria Professional registration with an appropriate governing body Work Experience Essential criteria Circa 6 years’ experience of a purchasing/contracting working environment Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team to collaborate towards a shared goal Desirable criteria Detailed knowledge of advanced procurement methods and techniques Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Essential criteria High standard of communication and presentation Confident stakeholder management skills Strong understanding of contract and procurement law Desirable criteria Understanding of supplier relationship management & supply chain management Strong understanding of the principles and application of category management Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances Essential criteria An analytical problem solving approach to activity Confident, professional and well-presented If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful. Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance. If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151. North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments. At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA people. Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.