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Job summary

Main area
Procurement
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday - 8:30 to 4:30)
Job ref
205-7769092-A
Employer
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton
Town
Wolverhampton
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/03/2026 08:00

Employer heading

NHS

Assistant Buyer

Band 3

Job overview

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

The role involves efficiently managing purchasing activities, including placing orders with suppliers while ensuring a high level of customer service. Additionally, it requires timely and accurate execution of administrative and maintenance tasks related to procurement systems and buying processes.

Main duties of the job

The role involves processing electronic requisitions within the Trust's purchase-to-pay system,  while collaborating with service users to offer procurement guidance, address inquiries, and ensure their needs are fulfilled. This includes utilising both telephone and electronic communication to gather quotations from suppliers, assess the received offers, and reach agreements with service users regarding the products and services to be acquired. Additionally, the position entails managing a specific range of low-value contracts and actively contributing to the department's savings objectives and targets.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. 

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To effectively manage electronic requisitions, it is essential to process and place orders promptly, ensuring that goods and services are acquired efficiently and in a timely manner.

To carry out purchasing activities in compliance with Trust protocols, Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Professional Codes of Practice, and applicable regulations.

 Engage with service users to offer procurement guidance, address their inquiries, and ensure that their needs are adequately fulfilled.

To foster strong relationships with user departments and ensure the delivery of exceptional customer service.

To inform service users about the correct procedures for requisitioning and ordering, while also ensuring that both requisitioners and authorised officers are fully aware of the necessary protocols to follow.

To identify areas with significant expenditures, particularly focusing on recurring low-value orders, and to communicate these findings to the Supply Chain Manager and the Strategic Procurement teams.

To engage proactively with the Trust’s Supply Chain team to effectively address and resolve delivery inquiries. This collaboration should focus on establishing delivery arrangements for individual orders that enhance efficiency, while minimising potential delivery issues and queries.

Engage proactively with the Trust’s invoice Payments Team to address and resolve any invoice-related queries. This collaboration aims to establish efficient payment arrangements, thereby reducing the likelihood of invoice discrepancies and issues.

To engage proactively with suppliers to establish agreements on pricing and delivery schedules, while also addressing any inquiries that may arise.

Utilise telephone and electronic communication to request quotes from suppliers, assess the received proposals, and collaborate with service users to determine the products and services to be acquired.

In collaboration with project teams, budget holders, and the Strategic teams, prepare summaries of quotations and tenders, assess the offers, and provide recommendations regarding the awarding of contracts.

The individual will be accountable for managing a specific range of low-value contracts under the guidance of the Supply Chain Manager, which includes overseeing the process of competitive quotation exercises.

To actively seek out opportunities for cost savings and present these findings to service users is essential. To cultivate and sustain a comprehensive understanding of the Trust, as well as national and framework contracts that the Trust can utilise, ensuring that these contracts are leveraged effectively to meet the needs of customers.

Document all savings realised in accordance with the Procurement Savings procedure.

The role involves addressing and resolving inquiries from system users via telephone and email, collaborating with the Supply Chain Manager as necessary, and ensuring that accurate records are kept.

To generate the necessary reports from procurement systems, it is essential to analyse purchasing data effectively.

The task involves the precise and effective organisation of records and data in both electronic and paper formats as necessary.

The role involves performing various administrative tasks as needed, which includes drafting letters and other documents using Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel. Additionally, responsibilities encompass managing telephone communications, organising files, and inputting data.

To leverage pertinent websites for acquiring information related to contracts, products, pricing, and suppliers.

Take charge of one's ongoing growth and enhancement in professional and technical skills through various avenues, such as attending conferences, participating in workshops, and utilising online resources and communication platforms.

To uphold the appropriate ethical standards while conducting the Trust's business, ensuring a high level of professionalism and integrity in all interactions with customers, suppliers, and colleagues.

Engage in team meetings as necessary.

Contributes to identification and development of value for money supply solutions. 

Person specification

Qulaifications & Education

Essential criteria
  • 3 GCSE (or equivalent) of grade C or above.
  • Possess, studying or willing to study to NVQ level 3 in relevant subject or to CIPS Level 3 (Certificate in Purchasing & Supply) or equivalent qualification.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft office: Word, Excel, access and Power-point.
Desirable criteria
  • ECDL or similar qualification

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Expereience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of order purchase order processing and buying duties.
  • Experience & knowledge of computerised purchase to pay systems
  • Ability to interpret, summarise and analyse competitive offers
  • Ability to work autonomously and be accountable for own actions
  • Ability & experience of handling queries/complaints effectively
  • Experience of meeting deadlines and set timescales
  • Experience of handling supply negotiations
  • Experience and ability to resolve payment and invoice queries, investigating route cause and resolving payment issues.
  • Able to utilise initiative to solve problems and develop the service
  • Ability to work as part of the wider team
  • Experience of handling customer telephone queries.
  • Customer service experience
  • Ability to understand, interpret and analyse data and information
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of running competitive quotation and tender processes
  • Ability to load catalogues onto a purchase to pay system.
  • Working knowledge of NHS Standing Financial Instructions
  • Experience of working in NHS Procurement services
  • Experience of contract negotiation
  • Experience of handling Field Safety Notices

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to plan, co-ordinate and manage workload and to establish priorities
  • Good organisational skills
  • Positive mindset in respect of supporting organisational change
  • Customer focused
  • Flexible to work practises and requirements.
  • Enthusiastic/ Positive/Self-motivated.
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Positive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold Award

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Caroline Harper
Job title
Supply Chain Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01902 695484
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