Senior Buyer

Job summary

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

The Senior Buyer role sits within our Contracts Team, delivering on behalf of the Trust. The Team is made up of a range of Buyers, a Data Specialist and a Commodity Advisor (Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse.)

The Senior Buyer is responsible for: contributing towards the delivery of the Trusts Procurement Cost Reduction Strategy; through delivery of allocated procurement projects and carrying out tendering processes at EU/UK level

Manage complex and varied projects across all categories, contributing to the workplan delivery. Lead/Conduct full end to end procurement process for large/complex requirements

The Senior Buyer is responsible for assisting in the training and development of junior procurement members of staff and has supervisory responsibility.

To engage customers at all levels within both the internal organisation and external client organisations

Discuss and manage detailed and complex contractual issues

To be able to lead, plan and deliver projects to an appropriate timescale

Ensure that the appropriate procurement processes are followed with application of knowledge and experience of Public Contract Regulations 2015

Ensure process followed in line with current legislation, internal SOPs and SFIs

Deputise for Head of Procurement Contracting as and when required

Previous applicants need not apply

Main duties of the job

• An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the procurement contracting team. You will report to the Head of Procurement Contracting and form part of a team which is responsible for contributing towards the Trusts challenging cash releasing savings target through the delivery of allocated procurement projects from a complex and varied contract portfolio.
• You will be running EU/UK compliant tender processes
• The role requires experience in public sector procurement and application of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.
• In addition you will need to have the following skills:
  • Negotiation skills;
  • Confident in presenting;
  • Be able to act autonomously;
  • Understanding of the current health economy;
• The candidate is required to have a knowledge of procurement principles acquired through either, MCIPS accreditation or actively working towards it (minimum level of 5 must have been achieved,) relevant degrees or experience
• The role requires you to undertake a wide range of duties, please read the full job description for more details.

What this Opportunity means:

• Developmental opportunities in Procurement
• Full Trust corporate and departmental inductions given
• A friendly and supportive working environment (see our Trust Behavioural Standards)
• Competitive Salary, with incremental pay progression
• Excellent holiday entitlements 27 days + bank holidays
• Staff support, health and wellbeing opportunities & other employee benefits

About us

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.