Senior Buyer
Job overview
Interview will be held on 3rd June 2025
Are you a procurement professional ready to make your skills count where it matters - improving patient care?
We’re looking for a Senior Buyer to join our friendly and experienced Procurement Team at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. You’ll use your commercial expertise and public sector knowledge to directly contribute to the quality, efficiency and impact of NHS services across the region.
We’re looking for a team player who can:
- Manage complex, high-value tenders and contracts
- Negotiate effectively with suppliers and stakeholders
- Drive cost-saving initiatives and value for money
- Support service improvements that benefit patient care
You’ll be responsible for delivering value through compliant and timely procurement of goods and services. You’ll support the Tender Manager and Head of Procurement to meet financial targets, maintain governance standards, and promote procurement excellence at all levels of the organisation.
Join an experienced, supportive team who offer excellent work-life balance and hybrid working, enjoying 27 days annual leave + bank holidays and a generous NHS pension scheme. The base for this role is London House in Bracknell, however, much of your work can be remote.
Our Trust is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, who highlight our positive culture, staff morale and innovation. We’re committed to employee well-being and career development.
Main duties of the job- Lead compliant tendering processes for contracts over £10k + VAT in line with procurement legislation and Trust policies
- Develop tender documentation, evaluate bids (including full life cycle costing), and coordinate award recommendations
- Manage supplier relationships, including negotiating improved pricing and resolving disputes, while maintaining patient care standards
- Approve contracts and orders up to £30k, and advise on authorisation for higher-value procurements
- Oversee a portfolio of contracts, ensuring performance, compliance, and delivery of value for money
- Validate invoices where required, and ensure contracts are accurately recorded in the Trust’s Contract Management System
- Publish transparency notices on the Central Digital Platform and manage resulting expressions of interest
- Support the Tender Manager and Head of Procurement with strategy development, policy updates, business cases, and procurement work plans
- Provide expert advice to stakeholders across the Trust on procurement processes and best practice
- Deliver internal training and help ensure organisational compliance with procurement policies
- Promote product standardisation and support regional collaboration via NHS Commercial Alliance and BOB ICS
- Contribute to delivering annual cost savings and supporting procurement-related projects as required
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- Public procurement experience (which may be demonstrated by 3-5 years’ experience or equivalent)
- Knowledge of public procurement law (including the Provider Selection Regime and Public Procurement Act 2023)
- Attained or working towards CIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply or equivalent
- Track record of managing multiple complex procurement projects and contracts
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call Mike Pollard on 07521 950239 or by email on [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria- CIPS professional diploma qualification (Degree Level)
Previous Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of large public procurement tenders
- Contract management
- Experience of public procurement procedures
- Experience in the NHS
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria- Ability to manage high level of workload, multiple complex projects
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Ability to Drive
These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.
At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.
Watch our careers video to learn more.
We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.
Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.
If you need help with your application, please contact us on [email protected]
Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement.
No agencies, please.