Associate Director of Procurement (NOVA) - Wickford - ref. l82531319

About Us

EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:

• We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
• We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.

EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.

Our vision and values

Our Vision

“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.

Our Purpose

“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.

• We Care
• We Learn
• We Empower

• We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
• We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
• We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
• We will help our communities to thrive.

• Mental Health Services
• Community Health Services
• Learning Disabilities Services
• Social Care

Find out more about the services we offer in our service directory.

Job overview

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to jointly appoint an experienced and highly skilled procurement and contracting specialist to lead on procurement and contracting for the NOVA Programme (a first of type Unified Electronic Patient Record) across Mid and South Essex.

You will have strong commercial acumen, excellent communication skills, and a track record of delivering impactful outcomes in complex organisations

The post-holder will be responsible for management of the contract with our UEPR supplier and all related contracts and procurement activities aligned to NOVA, providing specialist advice and driving efficiency, innovation and value across all related procurement and contracting activities.

The post holder will play a crucial role in ensuring high standards of compliance, governance and evidencing value for money, collaborating closely with senior leaders, clinical and operational departments, both internally and external to the Trusts.

Main duties of the job

The Associate Director of Procurement (NOVA) will be part of the senior management team within procurement and contracting functions within EPUT and MSEFT as well as the Nova Programme.

This includes all current systems and programme related procurement activities and the disaggregation of complex high value contracts on behalf of both Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a senior delivery role, operating across both EPUT and MSEFT, with a specific focus on our UEPR contract and associated contracts and procurement activities. The post holder will support the future design of the contract management for the solution and embed.

This role will operate across EPUT and MSEFT and will work collaboratively in a matrix structure on a project and programme specific basis, leading on a highly complex portfolio of contracting and procurement associated with NOVA.

The post holder deputise for the Director of Contracting, Business Development and Procurement (EPUT), and the Director of Procurement and Contracting (MSEFT) on NOVA related activities as required.

Working for our organisation

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Negotiations and contractual discussions may be highly contentious or hostile and complex and require skilled communication and effective negotiation.

The post holder will need to be skilled in leading and advising on matters which may be contentious and balancing the needs of both Trusts equitably.

The post holder will form close working relationships with Executive and Non- Executive Directors, Committee Members, and a wide range of senior leaders both internal and external to both Trusts, including MSE ICB, NHS England & Improvement, NHS Supply Chain, Crown Commercial Services, NHS Commercial Solutions (and other NHS and non-NHS Procurement Hubs) and Suppliers

Developing and presenting detailed reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes, and providing progress reports and delivering presentations to senior staff or groups of staff as directed from time to time, tailoring the content to meet the needs of the audience and responding to complex questions.

The post holder will be responsible for the long term planning of the procurement and contracting portfolio aligned to the Unified Electronic Patient Record, including all dependencies and ensuring a high level of governance.

The post holder will maintain information to provide assurance regarding the contracting and procurement activities undertaken and to evidence compliance and value for money.

Supporting senior managers across disciplines to define, scope, plan, manage and deliver complex procurement processes, ensuring benefits are identified and risk assessments undertaken.

The post holder will be part of the senior management team of both Trusts and be the technical, strategic and commercial procurement lead for Programme related activities, including the delivery of complex projects.

The role will also involve active engagement with leads of both Trusts’ procurement teams to ensure there is no duplication and to agree any resources that may be required to support procurement activities. Where individuals within the MSEFT and EPUT procurement teams provide support to UEPR activities they will work under the post holders’ direction and the post holder will be accountable and provide oversight and assurance.

Financial Activities

Liaising with finance colleagues from both Trusts to ensure appropriate costings and ensure compliance with standing financial instructions.

Responsible for ensuring adherence to budget, ensuring appropriate documentation is available for scrutiny.

Constantly striving for value for money and greater efficiency.

Responsible for providing guidance, management and assurance on the procurement of identified products, equipment, services and facilities for the NOVA Programme.

Responsible for making recommendations, providing advice and able to prepare strategic reports/briefings as required.

Provide advice to the Programme to support budget setting

Ensuring value for money in procurement processes is evidenced.

The post holder will both directly deliver and also work closely in a matrix role with both Trusts Commercial Procurement and Contracting Teams with line management responsibility where staff from both EPUT and MSEFT are working on the NOVA Programme.

The postholder will be required to follow procurement and contracting processes in place within both Trusts as required and meet internal governance requirements.

This will entail providing senior stakeholders with specialist advice, support and guidance.

Policy & Service Development

Maintain up to date knowledge on procurement law and regulations and both Trusts’ policies. Make changes to policies as required should the law change for ratification.

Actively champion NHS Social Value, Sustainability and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Agendas.

Research and Development

The post holder will be required to undertake audits as required to provide information for benchmarking, qualitative analysis and financial analysis etc. May be required to undertake specific research projects / development during the course of the NOVA Programme.

Person specification

Education / qualifications

• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or similar appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.
• Masters Degree or equivalent qualification or significant and appropriate in-depth senior level experience.
• Educated to Degree level
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development to include
• Supply Chain Management
• Project Management
• Procurement Systems Training
• Provider Selection Regime
• Public Contracts Regulations 2015
• Risk assessment / analysis training

Knowledge

• High professional standards combined with track record of commercial and business acumen
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Significant and advanced Procurement proven knowledge comprising:
• Advanced negotiation skills
• Proven knowledge of Strategic sourcing methodologies
• Proven knowledge of supply chain theory
• Contract Law and dispute resolution
• Statistical and data analysis skills
• Proven knowledge of market areas related to specific work categories
• NHS conditions of contract and bespoke contract solutions
• Influencing and inter-personal skills
• Proven knowledge and understanding of the political environment and stakeholders
• Business acumen, with proven experience in the ability to influence and manage commercial opportunities
• Constructs and communicates complex messages to stakeholders with impact
• Engages and operates effectively at a senior level Analytical and Judgement Skills
• Develops effective customer centric engagement methods to meet the needs of stakeholder organisations
• Planning and Organisational Skills
• Evidence of delivering complex and compliant procurement processes to time
• Evidence of effective team working in complex environments
• Leadership skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams, and have them understand the Trust’s and your performance expectations
• Excellent inter-personal, communications and influencing skills, both oral and written
• Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
• Ability to work within a diverse team of skilled professionals
• Accomplished at using the full range of available software packages, i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working
• Operates in accordance with the values of both Trusts

Skills / Experience

• Extensive demonstrable experience in contract management and procurement with evidence of procurement related to complex digital services within the NHS
• Demonstrable experience of effectively managing procurement teams at all levels, including senior management
• Proven track record of effective governance and performance management
• Full understanding of the healthcare environment, including highly complex procurement within the NHS and other sectors
• Project management - the ability to manage large complex collaborative projects
• Substantial proven knowledge of contract management
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage conflict
• Time management - the ability to manage and prioritise project activities and the workload of the business unit
• Cross-discipline and multi-regional teamwork
• Demonstrable experience of working across multiple sites or organisations
• Extensive analytical and problem solving skills
• Significant procurement or commercial experience in the Public and / or Private sector with expert understanding of the technical requirements of public sector procurement, in terms of the practical application of the EU Principles, UK Law (Public Contracts Regulations 2015) and best practice guidance to a range of project-based procurement activities.
• Demonstrable evidence of working with procurement systems and e-tendering

• NHS experience at senior management level

Additional qualities

• Ability to Travel across Trust sites as required
• Full UK Driving Licence

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post, the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Applications for Job Share are positively welcomed.

Equal Opportunities Employer

If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [email protected] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Covid Vaccination

Although Covid vaccinations are no longer a mandatory requirement within the NHS we continue to encourage and support the vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against Covid19. The safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for us at EPUT.

If you would like to book a Covid vaccination or would like more information please contact us by emailing [email protected].