Trainee Buyer inRedditch inRedditch PUBLISHED TUE 21 JAN 2025

We have an exciting opportunity for a Trainee Buyer to join our Procurement and Supply Chain department based at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch. This role will support the Transactional Procurement team in operational purchasing and support customers on their requirements and with suppliers to identify and secure supply and contribute to financial savings. This role will also support the Strategic Procurement team with cost saving initiatives.

Our Procurement and Supply Chain team provide professional procurement expertise, advice and services across the organisation ensuring value for money is achieved, whilst fundamentally supporting the delivery of high-quality patient care.

To work across clinical and non-clinical environments supporting the purchase to pay cycle for all hospital sites of the Trust. The role includes the processing of electronic requests for good and services via the trust ordering system and requires analytical and customer focused approach with attention to detail to add value.

Must be able use own initiative and work within the appropriate time scales approach, with the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders guidelines and controls. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team and support the Strategic Procurement team, internal and external stakeholders including the wider Foundation Group on cost saving initiatives.

The role involves liaising with customers on their requirements and with suppliers to identify and secure supply. The role will also involve ensuring that smooth electronic transactions are progressed through the Trusts Purchase to Pay system in line with standardised contracts.

A critical aspect of the role is to provide advice and guidance to user/staff and customers, on the purchase and delivery of goods and services, to ensure compliance in relation to Procurement and the Supply Chain.

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Support the strategic procurement team with cost saving initiatives and assist with project paperwork ensuring CAGs and contracts get signed in line with Trust SFIs.

Provide administration support for financial approval calls.

Undertake validation activities on NHS Supply Chain savings opportunities.

To support the administration of financial notifications in the Trusts purchase to pay system.

Assist the buying and Supply Chain team with queries on orders and provide support in seeking alternatives.

Undertake requisition processing and provide support to external stakeholders.

To be responsible for new supplier set ups on iProcurement, challenging requests where necessary and ensuring the correct paperwork has been submitted.

Support eProcurement system processes and catalogue administration ensuring the correct products are added or removed in line with project completion.

Filling of regular communications sent out from the Procurement Department.

Deal with queries in a professional and efficient manner, treating customers as you would wish to be treated in line with the Trust standards and behaviours and promoting a get it right first-time ethos.

To administer shared inboxs and ensure that queries are resolved or forwarded to the relevant team member in a timely way when needed.

Provide verbal and written guidance to requisitioners and inform them of the existing procedures/guidance available to help them raise requisitions and action notifications.

Prioritise and organise own workload.

Be aware of and adhere to, the correct ethics in transacting in public business. To display a high standard of conduct and a professional approach when in contact with internal and external customers and developing their knowledge of Public Sector procurement and code of conduct.

To participate in training sessions to assist in personal and departmental development.

To train, educate and give guidance on ordering procedures to Trust personnel in the light of changing circumstances.

To use the Trust reporting programmes to interrogate systems for product analysis and provide usage data for budget holders.

Assist in the implementation of new product ranges on top up as advised by senior staff as part of the Trust Savings Work plan.

To actively contribute to the efficiency of the section by embracing the core values of the Departmental Strategy. To provide the level of service and performance to meet the departmental objectives as defined by The Head of Procurement and Materials Management Supervisor. This requires being flexible in approach to an ever changing, demanding and dynamic NHS working environment.

Undertake any other tasks as allocated by the Procurement and Supplies team.

The work patterns are unpredictable due to the requirements of both customers and suppliers