Category Manager inKnowsley inKnowsley PUBLISHED WED 15 JAN 2025

The Category Manager will work as a member of the Procurement Team to ensure that the purchase of all goods and services are undertaken in the most efficient and effective manner across MWL, whilst adhering to the Trust(s) standing financial instructions and corporate governance procedures.

The main responsibility will be to manage contracts and projects to ensure the Trust(s) meet service requirements and annual Cost Improvement Programmes, whilst abiding by relevant Procurement legislation.

• To ensure the best possible goods and services are provided to our patients and colleagues, ensuring we deliver 5 Star Patient Care
• The Category Manager will be responsible for supporting the Senior Procurement Manager and ADP in the delivery of the MWL Procurement Strategy and national procurement agendas.
• The post holder will be required to support the Strategic Procurement Team in the identification and delivery of Procurement schemes as well as individually leading and delivering a number of projects, which will demonstrate and deliver value for money and innovation whilst meeting the needs of all organisation(s).
• The post holder will be required to provide sound Procurement advice in-line with Trust(s) standing financial instructions and Public Contract Regulations to both internal Procurement team members and staff across the MWL organisations whilst engaging, building and maintaining strategic working relationships with both internal/external colleagues and suppliers.
• The post holder will work closely with business and clinical colleagues across all MWL organisations to undertake procurement activity which will deliver innovation, meets local, national and regional green agendas whilst delivering value and quality to patient care.
• The post holder will also be expected to work alongside and in tandem with the operational procurement teams (P2P and Supply Chain) to ensure the delivery of a professional, joined up and efficient procurement service.

About us

KEY DUTIES

Team Management

Manage and support the Category Support Officer (see organisational chart) in the delivery of procurement schemes across all MWL organisations. Undertake objective setting and day to day supervision of the Category Support Officer(s).

Maintain key relationships with Finance Team(s) to ensure an up-to-date understanding of each Trusts overall financial strategy.

To deputise for the Senior Procurement Manager as and when required.

Professional Purchasing Advice

• To provide professional procurement advice in line with Trust(s) standing financial instructions and Public Contract Regulations to all colleagues across MWL.
• To have day-to-day responsibility for advising upon a portfolio of projects/contracts with regard to the need for tender procedures, quotations and other purchasing activities, whilst ensuring the Trust complies with local SFIs and EU Legislation for the purchase of all goods and services.
• To ensure all equipment for disposal follows local Trust policies and procedures and meets legal requirements.
• To provide professional purchasing advice to focus groups set up to consider the Trusts purchasing activities.
• To support clinicians and business managers in organising product trials, analysing tenders and undertaking evaluations which lead to best value purchasing practice.
• To ensure that recommendations for purchases are fully explained using appropriate relevant evaluation criteria are delivered in accordance with set timescales and remain within budget.
• Champion the Procurement function to influence internal customers to use the services of the procurement team.
• To provide advice on sourcing alternative products from appropriate suppliers as necessary.
• To produce regular management reports/options appraisal reports to aid business decision making.
• To advise on the use of appropriate standard terms and conditions for purchasing Contracts
• To organise, plan and hold regular meetings with the divisional management team/senior clinicians to progress projects.
• To organise and support contract management/supplier performance meetings for Trust key contracts in conjunction with business managers and clinical teams.
• Support with the effective performance management of suppliers, monitoring improvements where required and ensuring key performance indicators are developed and met.
• To attend Trust meetings and represent procurement (both internally within MWL organisations and externally at procurement events), providing sound procurement advice and support.

Strategic Purchasing

• To produce contract strategy documents for all major purchases / tenders in order to contribute to the overall purchasing plan.
• To undertake all activities in a manner that respects the appropriate level of commercial confidentiality e.g. FOIs
• To undertake robust data analysis from Trusts purchase order and accounts payable data to create category work plans/identify areas of opportunity.
• To work in conjunction with Collaborative procurement organisations e.g. NHS Supply Chain, HTE, and CCS etc. to ensure that the Trust is maximising benefits through nationally awarded Framework agreements where possible.
• To ensure that all contracts and pricing documents are communicated with the e-procurement team to ensure Trust catalogues are maintained and updated.
• To manage the commercial interface between the Trust and the market place through regular contact with end users and supplier representatives.
• To keep abreast of changes within the Trust and external markets and ensure that key users are updated as required.
• To develop opportunities to work in partnership with other Trusts/other public sector organisations in order to improve value for money and assist in benchmarking exercises / innovation opportunities.
• To ensure orders are processed in a timely manner and that pricing is correct/orders contain the relevant information.
• To ensure Procurement processes and procedures are followed and that tendering activity is carried out correctly and line with Trust(s) SFIs and EU Procurement regulations.
• Undertake quotations, local tendering and above threshold exercises ensuring adherence to Trust standing financial instructions and Public Contract Regulations.
• To manage a large portfolio of procurement projects simultaneously.
• To communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders ensuring purchasing activity delivers best value for money.
• Work effectively with other members of the procurement team to ensure efficient transactional procurement in accordance with the MWL Procurement Strategy and corporate governance procedures.
• To ensure the Trust(s) contracts database/register and workplan is maintained and kept up to date.
• Responsible for accurately recording information in relation to savings and scheme delivery and reporting on this information for the categories managed.
• Lead on capital purchases and renewal of maintenance contracts within categories managed.
• To ensure contract opportunities are advertised on the Trust e-tendering system/required government portals.
• To present opportunities to the relevant groups of product opportunities where there is a potential for product savings and standardisation.
• To ensure quality impact assessments are carried out in conjunction with any procurement project.

Patient Environment

• Ensure that financial and budgetary responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the Trusts Policies and Procedures (with particular emphasis upon working knowledge of the application of Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and Scheme of Reservation and Delegation).
• To ensure all procurement activity supports the values of MWL and that of the MWL strategy.

Financial Regularity

• Be familiar with the Trust(s) Corporate Governance Manual and Financial Procedures, particularly those relating to purchasing activities. To ensure that staff comply with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and Public Contract Regulations.
• Contribute to the development of Procurement procedure notes to reflect current/updated practices.

General

• To plan and organise own workload.
• To represent the Procurement department at internal (MWL) and external business meetings.
• The post holder is required to work with autonomy, whilst upholding Departmental requirements and professional standards. The post holder will comply with the values of MWL
• Any other duties as required. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post and may be amended from time to time after consultation with the post holder.

Additional information

• To ensure compliance to all Trust Risk Management, Research Governance and Infection Control Policies and Procedures and abide by the Standards for Better Health and essential standards of safety and quality.
• Comply with the explicit and implied terms of their contract of employment, or other agreement signed to handle Trust information.
• Take responsibility for managing own health and well-being.
• Expected to comply with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Code of conduct.