An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious, motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our procurement team. You will be an excellent communicator for the department to ensure we provide an effective and efficient operational procurement service across all areas of the LPC. The successful candidate must have access to a vehicle and able to drive. The Assistant Buyer will work within the Procurement tower to support the delivery of the procurement strategy and achieve the 'quadruple aim' targets. This includes delivering against the following objectives: Savings and efficiency targets Improving compliance with procurement regulations Customer service Reducing harm initiatives Work on specific/allocated projects against agreed timescales and outcomes for LPC customers. This will include sourcing of goods, equipment, materials and services that meet requirements by demonstrating value for money and promoting an integrated approach to procurement. Carry out the procurement of agreed goods and services in line with the Standing Financial Instructions obtaining best value and delivery within the specifications provided. Provide professional support to users in respect of the procurement process, including EU regulations and required process to be followed under the guidance of line manager. Be part of a busy customer services helpdesk team that undertake various duties including processing of purchase requisitions and placement of purchase orders, invoice/price queries, product sourcing and catalogue management for the Trusts. You will also be required to assist colleagues/stakeholders to understand both Trust and Public procurement rules where understanding may be limited and be able to relate, communicate and interact with colleagues at all levels across the organisation using both written and oral skills. The Lancashire Procurement Cluster (LPC) provides strategic procurement, commercial and supply chain services to the Trust partners - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The organisation is a shared service model, hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. The LPC has four distinct service lines: Procurement Strategic Relationship Management Systems & e-Commerce Logistics and Supply Chain The posts are within the Customer Services Helpdesk Team which is part of the Procurement Service. Main responsibilities include: Evaluate and deliver the best value procurement process for acquisitions for the LPC Stakeholders by use of different sourcing options for a range of goods and services. Build up product knowledge from the supplier base and introduce alternative products to internal and external stakeholders as opportunities to save money. Responsible for assisting with quotation exercises and cost analysis for the purchase of goods and services. Liaise with the NHS Supply Chain and suppliers to ensure that best pricing has been secured. Provide reports and other data to the procurement team to assist in identifying items for standardisation of products or lower cost alternatives. Produce management reports from the procurement purchasing systems. Liaise with the procurement team to ensure that only standardised products are ordered. Process requisitions for internal and external stakeholders onto the selected Procurement purchasing systems. Deal with reported discrepancies, shortages, returns for internal and external stakeholders. Operate within the LPC Policies and Procedures and display a high standard of professional conduct. Assist and support other members of the Procurement team in ensuring customer satisfaction. Provide cover for other members of the Procurement team as required. Support budget holders in managing their budgets for allocated projects.