Purchasing Specialist

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Job Overview

Bristol & Weston Purchasing Consortium (BWPC) is an award-winning provider of procurement and purchasing services in support of NHS Trusts and healthcare providers in the Bristol region.

BWPC’s remit includes the purchasing of medical equipment, consumables, instrumentation and fluids for hospitals, negotiating regional technology contracts, driving effective use of contract and agency staffing and providing data and systems to allow our clients to leverage their expenditure to their advantage.

Purchasing Specialists form the core of the Procurement Team within Bristol & Weston Purchasing Consortium and report to Senior Purchasing Specialists, Category Managers and the Senior Management Team while supervising, guiding and advising Buyers.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the delivery of procurement projects to achieve savings and cost reduction
• Analyse spend and relationship data to produce evidence for viable contracting and procurement opportunities
• Report results and activity accurately and in a timely manner
• Manage and engage key stakeholders to develop relationships and influence
• Promote procurement best-practice, demonstrating the value and benefit of the profession
  
  

FFocus on continuous improvement to ensure the team is pushing for the highest standards

Prepare and develop procurement documentation that is clear, concise and effective

Recommend sourcing approaches as a result of fact-based analysis

Build our client’s commercial position through whole-life costing and an aggressive pursuit of cost reduction

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of procurement projects to achieve savings and cost reduction
• Analyse spend and relationship data to produce evidence for viable contracting and procurement opportunities
• Report results and activity accurately and in a timely manner
• Manage and engage key stakeholders to develop relationships and influence
• Promote procurement best-practice, demonstrating the value and benefit of the profession
  
  

FFocus on continuous improvement to ensure the team is pushing for the highest standards

Prepare and develop procurement documentation that is clear, concise and effective

Recommend sourcing approaches as a result of fact-based analysis

Build our client’s commercial position through whole-life costing and an aggressive pursuit of cost reduction

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Desirable criteria

• CIPS level 4 qualified or a willingness to work toward the qualification
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Proven experience of working in a purchasing/contracting environment
• Evidence of having led successful negotiations to conclude a contractual relationship
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Working knowledge of the regulations governing public sector procurement
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• High standard of communication
• Ability to lead project work alone or as part of a team
• Understanding of contract and procurement law
• Experienced user of Microsoft Excel, working use of all Microsoft Office products
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of supplier relationship management
• Understanding of supply chain management
  
  

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

Essential criteria

• An analytical problem solving approach to activity
  
  

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.

North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.