Procurement Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Procurement Specialist to join our dedicated and commercially focused team within the strategic procurement function of Wessex NHS Procurement Ltd (WPL). WPL plays a vital role for the NHS in Hampshire providing end-to-end procurement and supply chain services for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. By working closely with our customers you’ll help us drive innovation, value, and efficiency from procurement - enabling our hospitals to perform better and deliver better patient outcomes.

It’s an exciting time to join the team as we focus our attention on delivering cost and service improvements in the context of 40-year high inflation, renewed demand for supply chain security, and drive to sustainable healthcare. The non-clinical, strategic procurement team looks after all the indirect spend categories including IM&T, FM, Estates, Corporate Services, Pathology and much more. Our Stakeholders have demanding objectives and we play a key part in delivering the best possible commercial outcomes. We contribute to the NHS’s Cost Improvement Programme and we are passionate about building strong relationships with our suppliers to implement contracts that truly deliver for our hospitals.

This role is a strategic position that requires the very best Stakeholder Management skills, a thorough knowledge of tendering, contract drafting, and contract management. The Procurement Specialist will take ownership of their own projects within Pathology and Facilities Management (FM) and programme-specific categories, with the opportunity to work across the non-clinical team. A flexible working approach is offered, working from home and/or offices in Southampton and Basingstoke as per the needs of the role. This position would be well suited to someone with a strong and demonstrable skill set within procurement, looking for a new challenge in a fast-paced commercial environment.

**Your Main Responsibilities**
- Lead procurement processes by delivering a portfolio of contracts and the implementation of effective risk management processes
- Work as a senior member of the procurement team participating in the development and implementation of complex procurement strategies
- Lead tenders and supplier relationships, taking a lead in supplier meetings, pre and post tender
- Commercial management of specific category areas and lead procurement-responsibility for a defined selection of projects, working directly with senior Stakeholders
- Pro-actively review and develop selected areas of non-pay spend and plan, design and implement the best value-for-money contracts, aligned to WPL’s strategy
- Deputise and assume responsibility to resolve issues in the absence of the Procurement Manager
- Update risk assessments for relevant categories and projects
- Negotiate with suppliers and Service Users to ensure optimum value, and value for money through transparent decision making
- Deliver and prioritise new projects and continue to contract manage and renew existing arrangements
- Proactively and positively contribute to the successful performance of WPL, giving expert advice and guidance on commercial and contractual issues
- Deliver excellent levels of customer service, resolving queries and complaints promptly
- Listen to and act upon feedback from Stakeholders and report any impacts to the team
- Promote and raise the profile of WPL and its value to our host organisations
- Develop and support the procurement team culture of collaborative, flexible cross-team working and commitment to delivering quality services and outcomes
- Comply with corporate governance structures, in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the host organisations
- Develop effective ways of working and create strong partnerships with Stakeholders at all levels

**Build Collaborative Relationships**
- Proactively contribute to the delivery of targets through both individual and team efforts, while managing and controlling risk
- Ensure that projects are delivered to a high-quality standard, to specification, on time and on budget
- Assist the Procurement Managers to write and implement tender procedures and policies
- Build and sustain effective communications with internal and external customers, facilitate discussions and field questions, listen to concerns and suggestions from all
- Ability to challenge Stakeholder assumptions and behaviours, where required, to realign with commercial and risk reduction interests of the client Trusts

**Strategic Purchasing & Supply Chain Responsibilities**
- Develop and implement innovative ways to evaluate tenders to release savings
- Create opportunities through the proactive and collaborative monitoring of contracts
- Increase the level of knowledge and skills within the team through documenting key learnings and support others to develop their professional abilities
- Ensure that procurement expertis