Deputy Head of Procurement
About us
At Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust we provide a range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, primary care and other specialist services designed around the needs of people in our city.
We have a dedicated and skilful team of people caring in Sheffield, which you could become a part of.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. These are: working together for our service users, respect and kindness, everyone counts, commitment to quality, improving lives.
Job overview
To provide a range of strategic and operational activities to the Trust (including day-to-day management of the procurement function)
To influence, engage and give appropriate advice to stakeholders regarding tendering activities, sourcing and procurement
To assist the Department’s Category Managers by developing buyer education in relation to contracting activity, and directly supporting the development of process improvement, product standardisation and rationalisation initiatives.
To deputise for the Head of Procurement as and when required
Main duties of the job
To support the implementation of the Trust’s Procurement Strategy by providing procurement leadership, advice and expertise. Responsible for managing the day to day procurement operations and resources to enable delivery of the vision, business plans, savings and efficiency targets that are consistent with financial and operational governance arrangements.
Build professional relationships, initiate and lead change to enable staff to deliver savings and quality improvements. Ensure that procurement services are subject to continuous improvement through developing professional practices, enhancing expertise, and building procurement capability and capacity.
Working for our organisation
At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front.However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Responsible for the Procurement function within the Trust in the absence of the Head of Procurement
Contributes to the strategic planning and operational provision of the Trust’s procurement function
Assists the Head of Procurement in the implementation of the Trust’s Procurement Strategy based on best practice for public sector procurement, and ensures that such strategy is monitored against objectives and reviewed.
Provides managerial support and training to the Procurement team, including day to day operational cover as required
Supports the Head of Procurement in the delivery of cost and efficiency savings for the Trust by analysing current spend in specific categories to support the development of procurement strategies
Meets customer requirements by demonstrating best value for money when procuring products and services whilst also ensuring compliance with contracts and Trust/EU standard procurement practice
Supports contract compliance by pursuing procurement excellence through the implementation of efficient and effective procurement projects within key markets
Works with Trust Stakeholders, providing and presenting procurement advice, making recommendations and assisting with the implementation of projects
Liaises with other NHS Trusts, DH&SC, NHS Improvement, NHS Supply Chain, Supply Chain Coordination Ltd. and any applicable Procurement Hub and other appropriate organisations, to benefit from sharing best practice, including the provision of data
Participates in procurement research at national and local levels
Contributes to the development and implementation of procurement strategies in line with the wider NHS Procurement vision to achieve value for money solutions
Organises product trials, analyses product use and supply, investigates savings opportunities, and implements and reports accordingly.
Represents the Procurement Department at Trust Governance and product and service groups where necessary, and provides strategic input to achieve standardisation of quality, cost effective products and services for use within the local health economy
Person specification
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria- Thorough understanding of the purchasing and supply process
- Detailed working knowledge of European Union Public Procurement Directives and Public Procurement Legislation
- Practical working knowledge of public procurement
- Understanding of technological advances in procurement
- Knowledge/experience of Collaborative Procurement.
Technical
Essential criteria- Excellent keyboard skills to produce complex tenders, terms and conditions of contract and extensive use of spreadsheets.
- Strong analytical and reasoning skills
- Strong project management skills
- Strong objective and analytical skills
- Good numeracy skills
- Management skills
- Experience with electronic procurement, tendering and contracting systems, e.g., NHS Supply Chain, Atamis
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant experience in public procurement
- Experience of handling complex procurement projects
- Experience of implementing procurement strategy, policy and procedure
- Experience of detailed analysis of data relating to the review of product use, cost and savings
- Experience in planning, organising and managing procurement projects and tender exercises
- Proven staff management/supervision experience
- NHS procurement experience
- Mental Health NHS Trust experience
- Contract and supplier management
- Report writing
- Experience in procurement of Services
Other
Essential criteria- Full UK Driving License
- Self-starter and developer
- Openness, honesty and integrity
- Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to lead and motivate others
- Approachable and supportive to staff
- Enthusiasm for and commitment to excellence
- Willing to work in a flexible manner as and when desired
- Ability to communicate with all grades/disciplines of staff in a confident manner
Please think about your personal values and how these align with our values when you are applying. Find out more about our organisation through our website.
We are a Disability Confident employer level 2 and hope to achieve level 3 this year. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for a role. When you apply you will have the opportunity to let us know if you require adjustments to be made, please contact us if you are not sure or if you require adjustments to the application process itself.
Our six staff network groups welcome new members, these are:
- The Ethnically Diverse Staff Network Group
- The Disability Staff Network Group
- The Lived Experience Staff Network Group
- The Rainbow Staff Network Group
- The Staff Carers Staff Network Group
- The Women’s Staff Network Group
We know how important flexible working can be to applicants and therefore we encourage you to discuss any working arrangements as part of this process. We will always aim to accommodate requests, wherever possible.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children and as part of our safe recruitment practice the successful applicant(s) will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if it is deemed appropriate for the role.The cost of the DBS check (currently up to £48.23) must be met by the successful applicant(s).
When applying for this post you will redirected to complete your application in our preferred applicant management system, Trac. If you are successfully offered a role, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.In addition, in submitting an application, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.
Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement.
While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice.
Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by SHSC and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.
For example, AI responses…- usually lack relevance and fail to address the key criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.
- may come across as generic and fail to distinguish you from other applicants.
- may be ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Without careful review and editing, the supporting statement could convey messages that are unclear or misconstrued by hiring managers.
- may include qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience that you do not possess, potentially leading to misrepresentation.
Supporting Statement
The supporting statement is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.
Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. Managers will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations.Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.
Consider structuring your statement with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.