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Job summary

Main area
Procurement
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Friday. Flexible working arrangements available with a blend of office and home working.)
Job ref
043-AC012-0125
Employer
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Employer type
NHS
Site
IP5
Town
Newport
Salary
£30,420 - £37,030 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/02/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership logo

Senior Category Officer

Band 5

If you are looking to join NWSSP, please see the additional information below that may be of interest to you: -

 

Our “Benefits” video has been created to highlight and showcase some of the benefits of working for the NHS and NWSSP:- https://youtu.be/zX3x046SDhg

 

The “Tops Tips – Be Yourself” video has been designed to support candidates applying for roles with NWSSP. We have outlined 8 key steps to help candidates articulate their capabilities and experience when completing applications with NWSSP. https://youtu.be/qe3ibY8b6m4

 

Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh. Any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English

 

 

Job overview

NWSSP is responsible for the full Procure to pay process for all Health Boards, Trusts, and Special Health Authorities in Wales. A vacancy has arisen for a Senior Category Officer within the Medicines Sourcing team. 

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your procurement career in a dynamic, challenging, and high-profile environment. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the application of commercial skills, negotiation; relationship management of internal and external stakeholders

To be successful in this post, the candidate will be of a continuous improvement mindset; need to be flexible and responsive to changes in priorities; be of a resilient personality; demonstrable track record in delivering creative and innovative service improvement solutions; manage heavy workload at pace; ensure policies and procedures are adhered to ensuring strategic and operational targets are delivered.

Although preferred, it is not essential to have experience of this category, as this learning can be provided as part of 'on the job' training and procurement/commercial skills are transferable. 

The organisation recognises the challenges of recruiting high calibre candidates and has a number of bases across Wales. Whilst the preferred base would be Newport, hybrid working is a benefit of this role, ideally the successful candidate will be office based/home based 2/3 days per week and discussions may be held in this regard with the successful candidate.

Main duties of the job

Supporting the teams understanding of the strategic direction of all NHS Wales organisations and the alignment with the NWSSP strategic objectives as part of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan (IMTP).

Supporting the leadership of the Deputy Head of National Sourcing in the delivery a National Sourcing category strategy for Pharmacy.

Work with the team to develop and deliver a comprehensive and maintained sourcing plan, focussed on delivering prioritised customer needs and cash releasing savings from non-pay budgets.

Apply commercial acumen and utilise skills to deliver in a complex changing environment throughout NHS Wales. 

Apply innovative and strategic thinking to continuous service improvement initiatives and be prepared to challenge historical practice when appropriate, ensuring best practice is adopted which improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pharmacy National Sourcing Team.

Ensure the operational management and performance monitoring of the whole Procurement team in line with departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).Support the Deputy Head in responding to FOI and Audit and Assurance queries. 

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.

Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people. 

Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.

Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone.  To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit https://nwssp.nhs.wales/working-for-us/

NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Qualified to CIPS (Level 4 Diploma) or equivalent experience
  • 5 GCSE's Grades A-C including Maths & English or equivalent experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Ability to be able to define your understanding of category management
  • Ability to be able to define your understanding of delivering value for money
  • Ability to be able to define your understanding of key performance indicators
  • Ability to be able to define your understanding of e-procurement
  • An understanding of the external influences that could impact Procurement Services in NHS Wales
  • Demonstrable track record of delivering savings against targets, non-financial benefits and other key performance indicators.
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of EU Procurement
  • Understanding of performance and process improvement, best practice principles and benchmarking
  • Knowledge of Health Boards and Trusts Procurement processes/procedures
  • Experience of people / staff supervision / management – preferably management experience within a procurement or supply environment.
  • Experience of category management and developing team work plans.

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to drive and lead a comprehensive data gathering on products/services and suppliers.
  • Ability to communicate complex information effectively to multi-disciplinary groups of staff and customers at all levels.
  • A good builder of productive relationships and the skill to be able to maintain effective business partnering relationships.
  • IT proficiency particularly in the use of MS Office; complex spreadsheets, bespoke complex databases and use of web-based systems.
  • Evidence of continuous professional development.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to be able to understand a range of complex category product knowledge that is relevant to NHS Wales customers
  • Strong influencing and negotiating skills with customers and external parties

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Customer Service ExcellenceHyderus o ran anabledd - ymroddedigDisability confident committedMenopause Workplace PledgeEnei MemberLexcel Legal Practice Quality MarkRhwydwaith Network 75 logoEmployer pledge demonstrating a commitment to change how we think and act about mental healthEmployer pledge demonstrating a commitment to change how we think and act about mental healthCore principlesPrentisiaethau ApprenticeshipsArmed Forces Bronze Award NWSSP

Applicant requirements

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Tracey Prothero
Job title
Deputy Head of National Sourcing
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

[email protected]

 

 

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