Contracts Officer

Job overview

Working within the Contracts Team, the post holder will play an active role in the department, utilising knowledge, skills and experience to make contributions to the achievement of departmental objectives by undertaking projects to drive value and innovation within the organisation.

The successful candidate will work cross functionally with both the Procurement Team and the wider Trust to ensure all goods and services are procured in the most economically advantageous method, adhering to Trust Standing Financial Instructions and Public Procurement Regulations.

Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure compliance with Public Procurement Regulations, Trust Standing Financial Instructions.
• Assist and carry out tender exercises where applicable
• Assist in the management of capital equipping schemes as defined by the Trusts Site and Service Capital Project Team where required.
• Seek new sources of supply to ensure that purchasing remains cost effective
• To act as a guardian of the procurement process, challenging non-compliance through the appropriate channels
• Attend meetings ensuring all relevant stakeholders are kept updated on the status of procurement schemes
• To assist within the Contracts Team, ensuring that the Trust’s purchasing activities are undertaken in an efficient and effective manner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Advise managers on the quality and effectiveness of contracts ensuring consultative process with users takes place where appropriate
• Close liaison with internal and external contacts in relation to procurement activities ensuring target deadlines are met
• To manage self and project teams in the delivery of scheduled and ad hoc procurement/commercial activities utilizing the relevant IT packages ensuring delivery to agreed timescales and within budget.
• Maintain close liaison with the Trust Medical Equipment Manager where appropriate when procuring medical equipment
• To negotiate best value with suppliers and influence internal customer to use the services of the Procurement function and contribute to the achievement of the Trusts savings target.
• To advise on procurement options in terms of routes to market.
• Attend project meetings ensuring all relevant stakeholders are kept updated as to the status of capital procurement schemes
• To produce management reports aimed at ensuring that stakeholders have the appropriate information to aid business decision making.
• To provide routine advice to the Trust’s departments and project teams with regards to tendering requirements, with emphasis upon ensuring that the procurement process is run smoothly and in the best interests of the Trust.
• To provide professional procurement advice and supporting documentation to focus groups set up to consider the Trust’s purchasing activities.
• To support clinicians in organising product trials, analysing quotations and question documents, and undertaking evaluations which lead to best value purchasing practice.
• To ensure that recommendations for purchases are fully explained using appropriate relevant evaluation criteria, delivered in accordance with timescales and remains within budget.
• Seek Best buy opportunities considering alternatives products and/or sources of supply and report savings/cost avoidance
• Ensure capital schemes are delivered within budget maintaining close links with end users, finance and suppliers to the Trust in line with the trusts SFIs
• Be aware of the Trust’s Corporate Governance manual and financial procedures, particularly those relating to purchasing activities.
• To ensure that staff comply with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions and Procurement regulations.