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Job summary

Main area
Pharmacy
Grade
4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Cross Site Working)
Job ref
418-DTO1992-KA
Employer
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Town
Luton
Salary
£26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/02/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Pharmacy Purchasing Officer

4

Job overview

Are you interested in a varied role which includes efficient management of drug supply to help in caring for our patients?

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Procurement Officer to join our Procurement Team in our friendly Pharmacy department at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This role would be working across Luton and Dunstable and the Bedford Hospital site.  We are looking for a candidate to provide leadership and support for our department’s Procurement function and be a key member of the wider Pharmacy team

The Pharmacy department helps support to ensure patients receive the right medicines at the right time and that we provide an efficient, timely and friendly service to departments and patients. 

The post holder plays a key role within the Procurement team ensuring the daily sourcing and purchasing of medicines to meet the needs of our patients.

Experience of the purchasing process and a familiarity with drug names would be an advantage but full training will be available for the successful candidate. 

Our Pharmacy team embraces and champions equality, inclusion and diversity across the whole department. We are committed to consider all potential work life balance options for our posts. We can also offer fully funded training to help progress and development in the NHS. There are a wide range of courses and apprenticeships such as management/leadership, Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operation and many more.

Main duties of the job

·         To raise orders using the Pharmacy computer system, and ensure the placing of these with relevant suppliers, in accordance with standard operating procedures.

·         To ensure purchasing is in accordance with the Trusts' contracts, frameworks and purchase agreements.

·         To process eCommerce orders through the Powergate EDI system, and to help develop and maintain systems of electronic invoice reconciliation.

·         To enquire into and resolve problems with late, short, incorrect or damaged deliveries in liaison with the senior procurement officers.

·         To chase items on orders with manufactures and wholesalers in regards to them being outstanding. Supports with the investigation of replenishment dates.

·         To proactively identify potential issues arising from medicines supply chain problems. To work with the drug shortage officer to resolve and source alternatives.

·         To assist in ongoing audits of supplier performance. To maintain the database of wholesaler key performance indicators to inform performance discussions.

·         To identify when product ordered is eligible for off contract claim i.e. meets all requirements and to inform senior procurement colleagues to take the process forward

·         To monitor and respond to queries received to the pharmacy procurement inbox

·         To participate fully in the individual performance review and objective setting process of the Trust.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached documents for further information on the role and responsibilities.

Any other information please contact

Kelly Smith-Rose 

01582 718921 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent
  • Full ECDL or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
  • Level 2 NVQ units in relevant Pharmaceutical area or equivalent
  • CIPS training to level 2 introductory certificate in purchasing and supply level

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of data inputting – raising orders/invoicing
  • Experience of running simple reports using Excel or similar
  • Experience of working within a team
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of working with pharmaceutical products

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of medicine names
  • Knowledge of sales and purchase ledger
  • Knowledge of the NHS

Communication Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Good listening skills
  • Good telephone manner

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to use own initiative and be self-motivated
  • Accurate at inputting data
  • Ability to work to deadlines and to achieve objectives in an organised manner

Personal Characterstics

Essential criteria
  • Calm under pressure
  • Friendly and efficient telephone manner
  • Willing to undertake in-house training on pharmacy computer and automated commerce systems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Employer with Heart

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kelly Smith-Rose
Job title
Pharmacy Procurement Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01582 718921

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone
01582 497325
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