Lead Buyer

The Lead Buyer role is required within the Clinical / Non Clinical Teams, working with key stakeholders including clinicians, nursing colleagues, estates and facilities, Corporate and IT, to lead a range of procurement projects. The role briefly consists of leading on self-identified and allocated projects under the direction of the Senior Procurement Manager, delivering against agreed timescales and outcomes for the specified areas across all or some of the Trust's within the scope of the Integrated Procurement Team.,

• Lead a range of clinical and non clinical procurement projects including planning and selection strategies; tendering and commercial dialogue. Involving close engagement with staff, including clinicians, nursing colleagues, finance, estates and facilities, Corporate and IT and external stakeholders to achieve a cost effective procurement of materials and/or services.
• Plan, negotiate and deliver a cost reduction work plan for materials and/or services, working closely with clinical staff including senior managers and external stakeholders without compromising quality of service.
• Assess and advise financial implications of contract awards to all stakeholders, reporting formally on the implications of supplier, service and product changes. Influence key internal stakeholders to accept any recommended product/service changes or if no agreement, escalate to the relevant senior team member.
• Provide professional advice to Trust staff including senior managers in respect of the procurement process, including Public Procurement Legislation, UK Law, Trust Standing Financial Instructions and NHS Procurement Guidance.
• Responsible for the tendering of complex and high value contracts typically from £100k to in excess of 5 million for services and materials, ensuring value for money and statutory procurement requirements are adhered to and achieving project sign off for all procurement decisions.
Working for our organisation Created in November 2024, which superseded the Lancashire Procurement Cluster created in 2017, The One LSC Procurement team provides strategic procurement, commercial, logistics and supply chain services to the Trust Partners - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. The organisation is a shared service model, hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. The One LSC Procurement has four distinct service lines: - Procurement - Strategic Relationship Management - Systems & e-Commerce - Logistics and Supply Chain The Lead Buyer role can operate on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of 40% or two days per week in the office. Owing to the need to develop high level working relationships with Trust stakeholders and suppliers, there is a requirement to work flexibly with regards to site working and be able to work from/attend meetings at sites across One LSC network.


• CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply)
• GCSE A level or equivalent Mathematics & English
• ECDL qualification or equivalent
• Evidence of personal development via completion of Procurement and/or Business/Organisational focussed courses
Desirable criteria
• Degree Level Business Studies or equivalent, Substantial experience within a strategic Procurement environment at a Lead/Senior Buyer level
• Experience of leading and negotiating high value complex procurement projects
• Current up to date understanding of public procurement directives and legislation
• Current up to date understanding of contract law
• Knowledge and experience of tender process, producing specifications and tender documentation in accordance with customer/client requirements
Desirable criteria
• NHS or public sector background in Procurement
• Knowledge & experience of procurement within NHS Clinical environment, Ability to analyse complex information, interpret in a clear, comprehensive format
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage with and influence clinical/non-clinical stakeholders at senior level
• Able to work independently and use own initiative with minimal supervision
• Able to work under pressure, planning and prioritising to meet changing demands and timescales, Confidence to establish positive working relationships with key stakeholders at all levels
• Able to influence, be assertive with tact & diplomacy
• Happy to have a 'blended' approach to work, being able to work from home whilst also being able to work from/attend any site location depending upon project/operational needs
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system. One LSC stands for 'One Lancashire and South Cumbria' and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership. The Trusts that make up One LSC are: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust · Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust · Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts. The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve., The One Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Procurement team are seeking applications for a Lead Buyer to be flexible and work across all One LSC sites. The Procurement & Supplies Team is embarking on an exciting period of change as we start our journey to become a single procurement department across the Lancashire and South Cumbria Region. The five Trusts are currently served by three Procurement Teams who are coming together and forming One LSC Procurement. The team will provide services to:
• Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
• East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust plus Atlas BFW Management Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals).
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
• North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
• Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.
We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust. It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit. We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable you to apply for this post.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38., Please note: a young person must be in part-time education or training until they're 18. If you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role. Disclosure and Barring Service checks If the role you've applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.