Purchasing Support Unit Manager

Job content

The Procurement & Supplies Team provides services to both University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The Purchasing Support Unit Manager role within the Procurement & Supplies Department is seen as a key role and an opportunity for candidates to manage a vibrant, highly driven team, based across numerous sites within both Trusts.

The role will manage a small team of Purchasing Assistants across Cumbria to provide exceptional customer service to all wards and departments within across Cumbria and North Lancashire.

The post holder will ensure all orders are processed correctly, usage trends are quickly spotted and any ad-hoc cost savings and cost avoidance opportunities are achieved. The will ensure that end users comply with the purchase order process and meet the requirements of Standing Financial Instructions (SFI’s) across the various Trusts.

The post holder will act as an ambassador for the department, influence end users’ choice of products and all queries and complaints are dealt with in a positive and professional way. They will supervise, coach and develop the team to ensure high standards of performance, quality and courtesy are achieved and maintained.

To lead the management of transactional procurement liaising with suppliers, internal customers at all levels across the trust, finance and materials management functions, providing transactional procurement advice and guidance resolving issues as appropriate.

Provide initial advice on contracting/tendering for goods and services in accordance with the various Trust(s) SFI’s, policies and procedures.

Continually monitor PSU’s service provision against agreed objectives and quality levels, developing and implementing strategies to improve performance.

Analyse buying habits of internal customers and identify trends regarding product usage and non compliance, highlighting any issues to Analytics Team and/or Divisional Buying teams.

Attend and contribute to the development of the wider Procurement Department service and business planning through regular attendance at Procurement team meetings and performance reviews.

Attend and contribute to monthly Trust wide ‘Capital Planning’ meetings, reporting outcomes to the Head of Procurement and developing and
implementing any resulting ‘Capital Procurement Plan’ within the department.

We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our community services for adults are provided in people’s homes, community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals and our main hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent, improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care, advice and support.

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay visiting our website https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/