Assistant Category Manager - Non-Clinical

CHS is able to offer a wide range of services. Our scale enables us to offer competitive rates and we have a long track record of providing high quality, customer-focused services.

We offer comprehensive estates, facilities management, medical engineering, catering solutions and procurement services supporting the provision of safe, effective healthcare to our communities. We are committed to delivering our Green Plan goals of reducing carbon emissions, air pollution, waste generation and improving recycling throughout delivery of our services. We also enable profit to go back into patient care.

CHS recognises that its staff are its greatest asset and that its business is its people. The company aims to create an environment and culture of openness, trust and honesty. We encourage and celebrate diversity because broader perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge will enrich and enhance the value we bring to each other, our clients, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Job overview

The role would suit a driven individual with proven procurement experience within a busy NHS department, local authority or wider public sector.

Key responsibilities of the role:

1. Support relevant category management initiatives and work across divisions were applicable and as directed by the Senior Category Managers.
2. Renew, rationalise and consolidate maintenance contracts and award new ones in the most cost-effective manner.
3. Develop strong working relationships with all stakeholders, both internal and external to the Trust, promoting a culture of shared responsibility for procurement issues within the context of Trust objectives.
4. Undertake and ensure robust Tendering and Contracting activity in line with Trust financial procedures.

Work closely with the other procurement colleagues and divisional staff to ensure that all aspects of the procurement agenda are covered in support of the Trust's objectives.

Main duties of the job

You will support the Senior Category Manager working to deliver procurement and contracting activity within your dedicated category area. You will work with staff, suppliers and contractors to deliver procurement activity to source products, goods, and services ethically at competitive prices and ensuring that CHS, the Trust and our partners follow procurement policies, regulations, and best practice, to deliver savings and value for money.

The post holder:

1. Support relevant category management initiatives and work across divisions were applicable and as directed by the Senior Category Manager and/or Head/Deputy of Procurement and Supplies.
2. Renew, rationalise and consolidate procurements and contracts and award new ones in the most cost-effective manner.
3. Develop strong working relationships with all stakeholders, both internal and external, promoting a culture of shared responsibility for procurement issues within the context of Trust objectives.
4. Undertake and ensure robust Tendering and Contracting activity via Atamis in line with SFIs, PCRs and PSR.

Work closely with the other procurement colleagues and divisional staff to ensure that all aspects of the procurement agenda are covered in support of the Trust's objectives.

Working for our organisation

The successful candidate will be joining Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd (CHS) at an exciting time with a real opportunity to shape the development of this new and growing organisation. CHS is an exceptional place to work with many amazing teams of hard working and dedicated staff, delivering high standards of estates, facilities and procurement services to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) and other customers. We have made significant changes in the way we work to meet the challenges of the changing NHS.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Savings

1. Contribute to the delivery of cost and efficiency savings for the organisation.
2. Continually review the route to market for goods and services ensuring that established arrangements eg utilisation of national/regional frameworks continue to offer best value for money.
3. Work collaboratively to deliver savings opportunities.

Compliance

1. Compliance to both internal and best practise processes and procedures which achieve best value for money when procuring products & services whilst also ensuring compliance with contracts and Trust/EU standard procurement practice.
2. Ensure that the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions (SFI's), European Public Procurement Legislation, and the Trust's and NHS procurement policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
3. Assist in the development of operational policies and procedures and support activities which ensure compliance to accredited standards awarded to the organisation.

Suppliers/Supply

1. Supporting supplier management to ensure compliance to contractual arrangements, KPIs and specifications as well as providing support in the event of market disruption and supplier failure which causes an issue with supply/service delivery.

Stakeholder

1. Effective stakeholder management undertaken during procurement activities/projects to ensure best outcomes are achieved for all parties.
2. Provide procurement support to Trust staff working on procurement tasks.
3. Develop strong working relationships with procurement colleagues and managers promoting a culture of shared responsibility for procurement initiatives.

Collaboration

1. Supporting collaboration activities with other Trusts to rationalise products and suppliers, and agreeing and achieving savings and other value added benefits.

Self Management

1. Attend all mandatory training as required by the CHS/Trust.
2. Participate in the annual appraisal process including putting in place development plans.
3. Seek advice and support from line manager and other colleagues within the procurement team.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

1. Experience of working in an NHS or Public Sector procurement environment
2. MCIPS or equivalent qualification or working towards MCIPS qualification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

1. Understanding of the NHS purchasing and supply process
2. Understanding and knowledge of European Union Public Procurement Directives, public procurement legislation and the forthcoming Procurement Act 2024
3. Working knowledge of public procurement
4. Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
5. Embrace and promote technology advancements and new ways of working

Desirable criteria

1. Knowledge and understanding of Acute Trust Procurement
2. Understanding of change management tools and techniques

Experience

Essential criteria

1. Experience of detailed analysis of data relating to the review of product use, cost and savings
2. Experience of managing own workload on a day to day basis and reprioritising tasks as required
3. Experience using e-tendering applications
4. Experience of using Microsoft applications
5. Experience of supplier management including resolution of supply challenges
6. Experience of working remotely

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in planning, organising and managing procurement projects and tender exercises
2. Experience of managing stakeholders
3. Product knowledge
4. Experience of handling complex procurement projects

General

Essential criteria

1. Able to fulfil the health requirements of the post as identified in the Job Description, taking into account any reasonable adjustments recommended by Occupational Health
2. Must be eligible to work in the UK
3. Ability to work in various locations throughout the network of services provided by the Company/Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
4. Willing to work in a flexible manner as and when desired

Desirable criteria

1. Full UK Driving Licence

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions (CHS) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/education history over the last three years and include valid email addresses for them. CHS will request electronic Factual Employment References from your previous employers. These references will be requested before you are issued with an unconditional offer of employment letter.

If applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through NHS Jobs, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via NHS Jobs. If you have a query relating to your application, please contact the recruitment team on ask.recruitment@cht.nhs.uk.

If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). For Enhanced and Standard DBS checks you will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.

CHS is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.