Senior Commercial Procurement Specialist

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

• An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Commercial Procurement Services Team, an accredited Framework Host via NHS England.
• You will report to the Commercial Procurement Manager and be part of a team which is responsible for developing and establishing UK-wide procurement frameworks and dynamic markets that can be used across the NHS and the wider Public Sector.
• You will be running Regulated over-threshold tender processes.
• The role requires experience/knowledge in public sector procurement and application of Cabinet Office Spend Controls, The Public Contract Regulations 2015, The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and Procurement Act 2023.
• In addition you will need to have the following skills:
• Commercial acumen;
• Negotiation skills;
• Ability to act autonomously;
• Ability to identify, research and report on opportunities for new frameworks and/or dynamic markets;
• Understanding of the current health economy.
• The candidate is required to have an in-depth knowledge of procurement principles acquired through
• MCIPS accreditation (or if not fully accredited to be actively working towards MCIPS status -CIPS level 5 qualification must have been achieved at minimum), and/or
• award of a relevant degrees or degrees, and/or
• relevant experience.
• Please read the full job description for more details.

Previous Applicants Need Not Apply

Main duties of the job

The Senior Commercial Procurement Specialist will from part of the Commercial Procurement Team in the Countess of Chester. The team is responsible for seeking out innovative ideas and developing and establishing UK-wide procurement frameworks and dynamic markets that can be used across the NHS and the wider Public Sector, whilst generating an income for the Trust.

You will also be responsible for gathering and analysing market data and presenting your findings with recommendations whether to progress a project further and what tendering processes to use.

Supplier Relationship Management is also vital for this role.

Further to this, the role also includes supporting the Director of Commercial Procurement.

See Job Description for further details.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

See Job Description for further details.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £55.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualification

• Educated to Degree Level (or equivalent such as NVQ4, Graduate Diploma) within the appropriate specialism
• Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply, MCIPS accredited or actively working towards it. (Minimum Level 5 must have been achieved).
• Evidence of continuing professional development through attendance of relevant courses. Should be able to demonstrate the latest knowledge of Procurement Legislation.

• Additional professional development certificate such as ILM or PRINCE II

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant experience of managing complex projects
• Significant experience of procurement processes including undertaking complex Tender process at EU level.
• Significant experience of working with a range of stakeholders at all levels of different organisations
• Significant experience in negotiating with other parties within the public sector and private sector
• Experience co-ordinating the production of all the documentation required for the procurement process in liaison with other parties

• Experience being responsible for procurement information systems
• Demonstrable success in managing change projects involving stakeholders
• Understanding of the current issues impacting on the NHS in particular knowledge and understanding of the commercial health care landscape
• Experience of developing and delivering training and development interventions
• Experience of service redesign within the NHS

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Overseas Candidates

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a CoS for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.