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Main area: I.T. Procurement
Grade: Band 7
Contract: 12 months (Fixed Term but is a developmental role and part of the departmental succession planning with the expectation that the Category Manager will follow a structured development programme to support them to achieve a Senior Category Manager role)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (successful candidate is expected to work on site a minimum of 2 days per week)
Job ref: 279-7106269-APR25
* Full time
* Home or remote working
Employer: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: St Richards Hospital, (Chichester) or Royal Sussex County Hospital (Brighton)
Town: Chichester or Brighton
Salary: £46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 28/04/2025 23:59
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
The Category Manager will work as part of the IT and Corporate category team as the dedicated IT category manager. The main objectives of the role will be to provide the contractual requirements for the service, deliver the best possible value for the organisation on the external provision of IT goods and services and build excellent relationships with key stakeholders within the EPR implementation project.
This is a developmental role and part of the departmental succession planning with the expectation that the Category Manager will follow a structured development programme to support them to achieve a Senior Category Manager role. Please note this recruitment is for a 12 month period, to cover an internal secondment of the incumbent to support a particular IT re-procurement.
Main duties of the job
This role will be responsible for managing the relationships with the relevant national framework hosts, our suppliers and identifying new opportunities and trends that the organisation will need to respond to, both in terms of compliance and capturing value while supporting the delivery of excellent patient outcomes.
The Category Manager will use their market and service knowledge to deliver procurements and contracts that maximise value for money, comply with internal governance requirements and relevant legislation whilst balancing the demands of service delivery in a dynamic, multi-site acute and teaching hospital.
The Category Manager will also ensure the provision of procurement advice to operational and corporate departments to support ongoing contract management.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
* Engage with and influence stakeholders at all levels and in sensitive situations, delivering difficult messages where required to Trust Directors and senior clinical and operational leaders.
* Employ effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives over the duration of projects/programmes including where there may be complex and conflicting stakeholder objectives.
* Build and maintain the reputation of the procurement service as a highly professional and enabling business partnering service.
* Champion procurement and promote the benefits of leading procurement practices internally and externally, resulting in procurement having a visible and high profile at all levels.
* Lead the negotiation of complex, multi-year contracts for services and subsequent contract management on behalf of the Trust.
Service Delivery and Improvement
* Develop and deliver commercial procurement strategies at a divisional level requiring senior stakeholder engagement.
* Deliver commercial procurement strategies that cover multiple divisions.
* Support on the delivery of strategic procurement and commercial opportunities ensuring the long-term sustainable future of the Trust.
* Carry out procurements for contracts that require analysis, comparison and assessment.
* Critically assess markets and competitive behaviour undertaken by all suppliers within the relevant categories and take action to improve or protect the Trust’s interests across the whole contract life-cycle.
* Ensure the provision of procurement advice to operational and corporate departments to support ongoing contract management.
* Co-ordinate clinical and operational engagement in the selection of new products and equipment including establishing equipment trials, designing feedback questionnaire, collating and reporting results.
* Ensure catalogues within the relevant categories are maintained and the electronic catalogue management system is maintained and updated.
* Extract and analyse procurement data to develop and inform the strategic approach to specific procurements, to identify efficiency opportunities and inform the forward work-plan of the team.
* Authorise purchase orders and contracts in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and Delegated Financial Limits.
Please see JD for more detail.
Person specification
Experience and Qualifications
* Degree or equivalent experience/professional qualification
* Demonstrate prior experience in a similar role
* Previous experience working in an IT-focussed procurement role
Skills and ED&I
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
Important information for applicants:
Please note, the use of AI generated applications will be closely monitored. It is at the managers discretion to reject your application if they feel the majority has been created through the use of AI tools.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Further Information
For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nursingteam@nhs.net.
For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nonnursingteam@nhs.net.
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