Support Buyer

**Support Buyer**

**Location**: Wolverhampton

**Parking**:Not Specified

**Job Type**: Permanent

**Proposed start date**: ASAP

**Sector**: Healthcare

**Base: Hospital**

**Band**: 4

**Pay Rates**:£23,949 to £26,282 after 3 years

**Working Days and Hours**:Monday to Friday, Full time

**Role Summary**

To undertake designated procurement activity, including investigative projects and the conduct of competitive quotation and tender exercises. Responsible for supervising purchasing assistants. Liaises with Senior Trust Officers, Procurement and Supply ChainStaff, Trust requisitioners, Clinicians, budget holders, Suppliers, Collaborative Procurement Hub, NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC), Department of Health, Internal and External Audit.

**Duties**
- To identify current purchasing activity and arrangements including items purchased as stock (via NHS Supply Chain) and non-stock and to research alternative products and arrangements, and to make recommendations and implement appropriate arrangements.
- To ensure all purchasing activity is conducted in accordance with Trust Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions and all other relevant regulations and legislation including EU Public Procurement Devices.
- To develop specialist knowledge of suppliers and products for designated commodities so as to be able to communicate at appropriate technical level with suppliers and product and service users.
- To develop, in conjunction with product and service users, specifications prior to the invitation of quotations and tenders.
- To investigate and implement the appropriate supply route and methods of supply for individual products so as to minimise the overall costs to the Trust.
- To develop and maintain a knowledge of purchasing arrangements negotiated by other bodies (e.g NHS Supply Chain, Health Trust Europe) which are available for use by the Trust and utilising these where they represent best value to the Trust.
- To identify and evaluate potential sources of supply and to develop and promote new suppliers where this will provide benefits to the Trust. Division: Central Functions Job Title: Support Buyer Band: 4 Location: Integrated Supplies & Procurement Department
- New Cross Hospital Hours: 37.5 hours per week Managerially accountable to: Contract/Category Manager Professionally accountable to: Contract/Category Manager Key Relationships: All customers of the Supplies & Procurement Department, collaborative partnersRole Summary To undertake designated procurement activity, including investigative projects and the conduct of competitive quotation and tender exercises. Responsible for supervising purchasing assistants. Liaises with Senior Trust Officers, Procurement andSupply Chain Staff, Trust requisitioners, Clinicians, budget holders, Suppliers, Collaborative Procurement Hub, NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC), Department of Health, Internal and External Audit.
- To prepare invitation to quotation and tender documents in accordance with agreed procedures and to ensure that all such documentation is to a high standard and is relevant to the specific goods/services being purchased.
- To manage a designated range of low value contracts which will include the conduct of competitive quotation and tender exercises where applicable.
- To prepare summaries of quotations and tenders and, in conjunction with project teams/budget holders, and the Contracts Manager, evaluate offers and make recommendations as to the award of business
- To prepare contract award documents in accordance with agreed procedures and to ensure that all such documentation is to a high standard and is relevant to the specific goods/services being purchased.
- To update the contracts workplan for designated activity so that it accurately reflects current activity.
- To liaise with Collaborative Hubs and NHS Supply Chain buyers and purchasing managers as appropriate including preparing usage data as required.
- To place orders using electronic systems as required in accordance with agreed procedures.
- To supervise the day to day activity of the Purchasing Assistant as agreed with the Contracts Manager.
- To supervise and personally undertake the accurate and efficient filing of records and data both in electronic and paper formats as appropriate.
- To liaise proactively with the Trust’s Supply Chain staff to identify and resolve deliver queries effectively and to agree delivery arrangements for individual orders which maximise efficiency and minimise delivery problems and queries.
- To utilise relevant websites to obtain contract, product, pricing and supplier information.
- To undertake specific purchasing related projects commensurate with the grade of the post, as required by the Procurement Systems and Buying Manager.
- To take responsibility for own continuous update and development in areas of professional and technical competencies through a variety of means e.g. conferences, workshops, use of internet etc.
- To be aware of the correct ethics in conducting the Trust’s business and to display a high standard of conduct and professional approach when in contact with customers, suppliers and colleagues.
- To participate in training sessions both as a receiver and provider of training, as required.
- As a member of staff at the Integrated Supplies & Procurement Department (UHNM & RWT) you have a personal responsibility to ensure that you do not discriminate, harass or bully, or contribute to the discrimination, harassment or bullying of a colleagueor colleagues, or condone discrimination, harassment or bulling of others. You are also required to co-operate with measures introduced to ensure equality of opportunity.
- Other tasks, commensurate with the grade of the post, will be allocated over the duration of the contract of employment dependent upon the needs of the service and the development of the post holder.