Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Category Buyer

The closing date is 20 April 2026

Job summary

This vacancy is only open at this stage to internal employees of the following organisations within the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System:

  • Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, inclusive of Black Country Procurement Group and North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service.
  • Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Boar

The post-holder is a key member of the Procurement Department and will be involved in the full cycle of contract development, procurement and management and will be responsible for maintaining effective working relationships providing commercial support to internal customers. They will undertake a wide range of procurement activities and assist in the development of the work plan and the delivery of the annual Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) target.

The post holder will be required to ensure appropriate, robust contracts are in place across all of the Trusts' services and that the service leads understand the procurement process. In addition, the post holder will have responsibility for managing, motivating and developing the Strategic Team ensuring delivery of a fast, efficient and best value service throughout the organisation in a challenging climate.

Main duties of the job

Consult with suppliers' representatives on specific projects and contract management initiatives and explore innovative solutions with clinicians and managers that deliver the required benefits.Conduct meetings to agree procurement strategy, specifications, and compliant tender processes.Develop professional relationships with key suppliers through regular contact and contract management processes.Communicate procurement strategies, work plans, milestones, deliverables, and discuss/investigate compliance.Actively participate in complex procurement projects of high value including coordination, evaluation, risk registers as examples to ensure Trust policy adhered to.Ability to extract information from relevant systems and utilise the data to create insight.Prioritise procurement activity in line with urgency, complexity, significance to Trust priorities.Preparation of procurement documentation both quotation and high value (above threshold) tenders.Draft contracts following quotation and high value procurement tenders (with the support of Procurement Leadership.)Work with finance and procurement leadership to ensure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements e.g., standing financial instructions and procurement regulations.Ensure that contract documentation is correct, terms and conditions are in place, and all information is entered into the appropriate system to meet audit requirements

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

301-ZR-26-7893437

Job locations

Trust HQ - Hybrid

Corporation Street

Stafford

ST16 3SR


Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will function as a trusted advisor, providing advice and guidance on all aspects of their specific category and service portfolio in a professional manner.Provide accurate and timely management information and category/contract performance information as required in support of the function.Champion the Trusts agreed contract creation and management processes and reporting requirements.Provide procurement guidance and advice on the Trusts commercial practices and standing financial instructions.Discuss complex procurement queries with Trust colleagues and suppliers and identify appropriate solutions.

Communicate with organisations external to the Trusts, for example, with the regional Integrated Care System to ensure alignment of procurement activity. Communicate on national, regional and Trust specific initiatives. Ability to manually create reports where data is not available. Creation of reports aligned to Trusts reporting requirements e.g., tender award reports. Provide guidance and agree how the blend of evaluation criteria should be outlined in procurement processes. Resolve contractual problems as required e.g., contract disputes (with support of Procurement Leadership) and payment disputes. Provide guidance on procurement matters to project managers, the wider procurement team, and/or other operational personnel. Ensure adherence to finance and procurement risk requirements e.g., standing financial instructions and English procurement regulations. Interpret Trust, regional and national guidance with regards to social value, green agenda and incorporate into procurement project activity ensuring the measures can be appropriately measured. Support Procurement leadership in ensuring transaction compliance. Interpret the requirements of the procurement and determine (with the assistance of Procurement Leadership) the appropriate NHS terms and conditions to be utilise. Ability to create project plans for procurement activities and brief to stakeholders e.g., statutory timelines. Contribute to the Trusts work plans through analysis of expenditure. Maintain audit records and clear electronic filing structures. Monitor contract management processes to ensure value for money is obtained and identify problems, recommend/take correct actions. Follow and ensure project leads are aligned with the procurement policy for the purchase of goods/works/services Monitor compliance by Trust colleagues with established procedures. Identify areas of recurrent pressure and highlight to Procurement Leadership. Ensure that the correct terms and conditions are in place. Supports Procurement Leadership in the development of sourcing policies and helping personnel as required. Ensure data requested (e.g., product data for catalogues) is provided in a format that is suitable to be utilise in Trust p2p systems. Ensure compliance with Trust Standing Financial Instructions. Ensuring that the Trust Standing Financial Instructions are complied with Ensuring that procurement activities meet the cash and non-cash requirements of the Trusts, e.g., cash releasing savings or non-cash benefits such as social value, green benefits are recorded and reportable. Work with and recommend improvements to the procurement dashboard to ensure that procurement benefit is maximized. Contribute a share of the Procurement department targets aligned to project activity for which responsible. Advises budget holders on procurement activities, costs, and performance reporting. Creation of and progression of Trust work plan agreed with stakeholders Maintain all information governance and audit requirements Respect the need for confidentiality during procurement processes.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will function as a trusted advisor, providing advice and guidance on all aspects of their specific category and service portfolio in a professional manner.Provide accurate and timely management information and category/contract performance information as required in support of the function.Champion the Trusts agreed contract creation and management processes and reporting requirements.Provide procurement guidance and advice on the Trusts commercial practices and standing financial instructions.Discuss complex procurement queries with Trust colleagues and suppliers and identify appropriate solutions.

Communicate with organisations external to the Trusts, for example, with the regional Integrated Care System to ensure alignment of procurement activity. Communicate on national, regional and Trust specific initiatives. Ability to manually create reports where data is not available. Creation of reports aligned to Trusts reporting requirements e.g., tender award reports. Provide guidance and agree how the blend of evaluation criteria should be outlined in procurement processes. Resolve contractual problems as required e.g., contract disputes (with support of Procurement Leadership) and payment disputes. Provide guidance on procurement matters to project managers, the wider procurement team, and/or other operational personnel. Ensure adherence to finance and procurement risk requirements e.g., standing financial instructions and English procurement regulations. Interpret Trust, regional and national guidance with regards to social value, green agenda and incorporate into procurement project activity ensuring the measures can be appropriately measured. Support Procurement leadership in ensuring transaction compliance. Interpret the requirements of the procurement and determine (with the assistance of Procurement Leadership) the appropriate NHS terms and conditions to be utilise. Ability to create project plans for procurement activities and brief to stakeholders e.g., statutory timelines. Contribute to the Trusts work plans through analysis of expenditure. Maintain audit records and clear electronic filing structures. Monitor contract management processes to ensure value for money is obtained and identify problems, recommend/take correct actions. Follow and ensure project leads are aligned with the procurement policy for the purchase of goods/works/services Monitor compliance by Trust colleagues with established procedures. Identify areas of recurrent pressure and highlight to Procurement Leadership. Ensure that the correct terms and conditions are in place. Supports Procurement Leadership in the development of sourcing policies and helping personnel as required. Ensure data requested (e.g., product data for catalogues) is provided in a format that is suitable to be utilise in Trust p2p systems. Ensure compliance with Trust Standing Financial Instructions. Ensuring that the Trust Standing Financial Instructions are complied with Ensuring that procurement activities meet the cash and non-cash requirements of the Trusts, e.g., cash releasing savings or non-cash benefits such as social value, green benefits are recorded and reportable. Work with and recommend improvements to the procurement dashboard to ensure that procurement benefit is maximized. Contribute a share of the Procurement department targets aligned to project activity for which responsible. Advises budget holders on procurement activities, costs, and performance reporting. Creation of and progression of Trust work plan agreed with stakeholders Maintain all information governance and audit requirements Respect the need for confidentiality during procurement processes.

Person Specification

NHS Experience

Essential

  • Roles
  • CIPS Qualification

Desirable

  • CIP delivery
  • Procurement Act / PSR knowledge

Experience

Essential

  • Sounds knowledge of PA23 and PSR

Desirable

  • Proven examples of PA23 / PSR
Person Specification

NHS Experience

Essential

  • Roles
  • CIPS Qualification

Desirable

  • CIP delivery
  • Procurement Act / PSR knowledge

Experience

Essential

  • Sounds knowledge of PA23 and PSR

Desirable

  • Proven examples of PA23 / PSR

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ - Hybrid

Corporation Street

Stafford

ST16 3SR


Employer's website

https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ - Hybrid

Corporation Street

Stafford

ST16 3SR


Employer's website

https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Procurement Manager

Sophie Dunn

Sophie.Dunn@mpft.nhs.uk

0330123567

Details

Date posted

14 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

301-ZR-26-7893437

Job locations

Trust HQ - Hybrid

Corporation Street

Stafford

ST16 3SR


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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