Procurement Category Manager

at  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

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

Please refer the Job description for details