Procurement Category Manager

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Support the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager in ensuring all non-pay spend is governed by and subject to proficient procurement.
• Maintain overall understanding of Trust spend using a variety of data sources including Oracle, Bravo and supplier data to establish a detailed knowledge of Trust expenditure by Supplier, Site, Division, Department & Commodity.
• Engage and work closely with senior stakeholders who provide healthcare and support services to help identify improvements and changes in practice arising from supply market opportunities.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders to maximise Procurement performance and non-pay efficiencies across the Trust.
• Provide expert strategic procurement advise to stakeholders.
• Develop robust category strategies.
• Documenting, communicating and influencing senior stakeholders to ensure effective buy-in to the proposed category strategies.
• To lead on category management within one or more Categories under the direction of the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager
• Develop and implement Tender activity as directed by Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager with internal Divisional leads across the organisation at OJEU level.
• Lead, manage, evaluate and report the findings of product trials.
• To assist with the development of specifications for requirements.
• To assist with the development of robust evaluation criteria for all accreditation processes to ensure that they are transparent and capable of withstanding legal challenge.
• To produce a project plan for each procurement to highlight the key milestones, identify any barriers and alternatives to circumnavigate these problems to deliver the projects on time.
• Report any barriers to the progression of any projects following the departmental procedures after making every effort to progress prior to escalating.
• Ensure the timely provision of project progress and savings delivery to feed into workplan and monthly reporting timescales.
• Report agreed savings to the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager as per department procedures to ensure timely reporting to the PMO.
• Ensure that Divisional management and PMO are clear on progress with initiatives and aware of potential barriers/delays so action plans to overcome these can be put in place.
• Identify Quality Cost Improvement Initiatives (CIP) from spend and supplier analysis and dialogue with Divisional leads across the Trust as agreed with the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager.
• Monitor contracts to ensure contract governance is in place and coordinate supplier/stakeholder contract monitoring and improve performance to support the CIP agenda.
• Monitor and maintain contract compliance against Trust expenditure. Liaise with internal and external contacts to facilitate contractual coverage for non-compliant expenditure where formal agreements are not in place.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of Government and Department of Health directives such as the National NHS Procurement Strategy (Better Procurement, Better Value, Better Care) and other DoH initiatives that relate to the Procurement service.
• To support other members of the team with any formal tenders as and when necessary.
• To use the electronic tendering system and contracts finder portals.
• To work in conjunction with collaborative procurement organisations including, but not limited to NHS Supply Chain, Crown Commercial Services etc.
• Deputise for the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager.
• Manage and promptly deal with complaints and concerns from Directorates on commercially sensitive and complex supply issues, using careful analysis and judgement and responding positively through the use of empathy, persuasion and negotiations to deliver effectives resolutions to issues raised.
• Provide advice on Terms and Conditions of Contracting and procurement legal issues before, during and after award of contracts.
• To communicate clearly and succinctly, using the appropriate language for the audience in a way which motivates and supports other members of the team. Communications will involve complex information where persuasive, negotiating skills are required and will be:
• Face to face and by telephone
• Within formal and informal meetings
• Written. Letters, memorandum, e-mail, and reports through presentations
• To respond to local clinical staff and potential or existing provider enquiries, either written, email, face to face or telephone using empathy and judgement in an efficient and effective way.
• To advise customers and implement and legal or financial changes within EU, Public Contracts Regulations and Guidance and procurement thresholds.
• To liaise with other Procurement specialists and other team members on a daily basis in order to ensure accurate and up to date information related to the procurement plan is disseminated.
• To assists the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager with implementation of Departmental policies, procedures and strategies.
• To be responsible for the delivery of a number of strategic objectives within the Trust's Procurement Strategy document.
• Carry out research and contributes advice on the introduction of new products and ensures that appropriate trials are undertaken and recorded and assist with the standardisation programme.
• The post holder will work closely with user departments, usually as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team, in order to understand their need and interpret these through to the appropriate commercial agreements.
• Represent Trust at national and regional events and projects.
• Undertaking any other assignments or duties allocated by the Head of Procurement or Senior Category Manager.
• The work pattern is unpredictable due to the requirement to respond to urgent requests from Trust Managers and Suppliers.

Qualifications

Essential

• Holds a professional procurement qualification or has relevant demonstrable senior procurement management experience.
• Proven ability to manage a team effectively producing year on year results.
• Good standard of General Education.
• Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development and training.
• Demonstrate training which has assisted in the development of others and a positive and proactive approach to staff development.

Desirable

• C.I.P.S. or studying towards.
• Project management.
• Negotiation training.
• Report writing.

Experience

Essential

• Proven experience of procurement/category management within a large organisation.
• Proven experience of category strategy development and approval.
• Demonstrate solid achievement in category management roles and be conversant with information technology.
• Leadership and managerial experience.
• Proven high level of communication skills using a wide range of methods including verbal and face to face presentations.
• Experience in receiving complex data which requires analysis and interpreting for customers and colleagues.
• Demonstrable experience of carrying out high value procurements from conception to evaluation and implementation.
• Experience of policy implementation.
• Experience in providing advice in relation to contractual terms and conditions.
• Experience in managing a number of categories and prioritising own workload.
• Experience in negotiating and persuading colleagues of the need to adopt best procurement practice.
• Experience in leading, motivating and supporting a group of staff, to set and achieve targets with those staff.

Desirable

• Experience of writing full business cases.
• Experience of procurement/category management in the NHS.
• Experience of advanced negotiation.
• Experience of demand management techniques.
• Experience of introducing stock management systems.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Supply Chain Management, Contract processes and Contract Law.
• Understanding of customer requirements that are particular to the healthcare industry.
• Thorough understanding of Contract process.
• Clear understanding of prioritising workload and how this can be achieved.
• Knowledge and understanding of staff management issues, leadership and motivation.
• Thorough knowledge of e-commerce and e-procurement.
• Knowledge and understanding of Supply Chains.
• Knowledge of Inventory Management Systems and issues.
• Knowledge and working experience of MS Excel.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Ability to solve complex contracting problems innovatively.
• Ability to use both MS Office and IT Procurement systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively in terms that can be understood across all professions within the Trust.
• To be able to work effectively and communicate with other staff and customers.
• Support new staff and help all staff with their on-going development.

Desirable

• Knowledge of goods & services used within NHS.
• Knowledge of Medical and Non Medical products and the dynamics of the Healthcare market.
• Knowledge of the 'Purchase to Pay' process.
• Good comprehension of Procurement Strategy and Policy contents.
• Understanding of EU Procurement procedures and legislation.
• Expert theoretical knowledge of public sector procurement.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Professional approaches to all aspects of work, in particular the adoption of the CIPS ethical code of conduct and the Trusts Codes of Conduct and accountability.
• Proven ability to operate/think laterally and work on own initiative.
• Ability to deal with highly complex, sensitive information of a contractual nature.
• Articulate with practised and developed interpersonal communication and presentations skills.
• Experience of complex evaluation and market and economic analysis.
• Industrious and versatile.
• Creative, innovative and visionary mind set.
• Ability to influence, command respect and to establish credibility with Board members.
• Tactful, diplomatic and at ease with all kinds of people.
• Ability to motivate and develop others.
• Commitment to staff development at all levels, including the sponsorship of professional development.
• The drive to deliver services of high quality at low cost which is customer focused.
• Demonstrates tact and diplomacy as well as an ability to be assertive when required.
• Be hardworking, enthusiastic and committed to the outcome required by both the department and the Trust.
• To be able to work to deadlines and work under pressure to meet targets in a professional manner.
• Results driven.
• Willingness to change and implement new ideas/concepts.
• Ability to prioritise.
• Team player.
• Assertive.

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work flexible hours and travel across Trust sites, to suppliers and other agencies as will be required in the course of performing the duties under this role.
• Hardworking and committed to the outcomes required by the Organisation.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Professional and Business-like appearance and conduct at all times.
• Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet the Trust and Departmental values.