Trainee Buyer

Job summary

An exciting new role has become available in the Trust's Procurement & Supply Chain Department.

We are seeking an individual to work across clinical and non-clinical environments supporting the purchase to pay cycle for all hospital sites of the Trust. The role includes the processing of electronic requests for good and services via the trust ordering system and requires analytical and customer focused approach with attention to detail to add value.

The ideal person must be able use their own initiative and work within the appropriate time scales approach, with the Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders guidelines and controls. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team and support the Strategic Procurement team, internal and external stakeholders including the wider Foundation Group on cost saving initiatives.

Main duties of the job

The role involves liaising with customers on their requirements and with suppliers to identify and secure supply. The role will also involve ensuring that smooth electronic transactions are progressed through the Trusts Purchase to Pay system in line with standardised contracts.

A critical aspect of the role is to provide advice and guidance to user/staff and customers, on the purchase and delivery of goods and services, to ensure compliance in relation to Procurement and the Supply Chain.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

• Date posted: 25 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 2
• Salary: £25,272 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: C9365-26-0659
• Job locations: The Alexandra Hospital, Woodrow Drive, REDDITCH, Worcestershire, B98 7UB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

Support the strategic procurement team with cost saving initiatives and assist with project paperwork ensuring CAGs and contracts get signed in line with Trust SFIs.

Provide administration support for financial approval calls.

Undertake validation activities on NHS Supply Chain savings opportunities.

To support the administration of financial notifications in the Trusts purchase to pay system.

Assist the buying and Supply Chain team with queries on orders and provide support in seeking alternatives.

Undertake requisition processing and provide support to external stakeholders.

To be responsible for new supplier set ups on iProcurement, challenging requests where necessary and ensuring the correct paperwork has been submitted.

Support eProcurement system processes and catalogue administration ensuring the correct products are added or removed in line with project completion.

Filling of regular communications sent out from the Procurement Department.

Deal with queries in a professional and efficient manner, treating customers as you would wish to be treated in line with the Trust standards and behaviours and promoting a get it right first-time ethos.

To administer to the shared inbox and ensure that queries are resolved or forwarded to the relevant team member in a timely way when needed.

Provide verbal and written guidance to requisitioners and inform them of the existing procedures/guidance available to help them raise requisitions and action notifications.

Prioritise and organise own workload.

Be aware of and adhere to, the correct ethics in transacting in public business. To display a high standard of conduct and a professional approach when in contact with internal and external customers and developing their knowledge of Public Sector procurement and code of conduct.

To participate in training sessions to assist in personal and departmental development.

To train, educate and give guidance on ordering procedures to Trust personnel in the light of changing circumstances.

To use the Trust reporting programmes to interrogate systems for product analysis and provide usage data for budget holders.

Assist in the implementation of new product ranges on top up as advised by senior staff as part of the Trust Savings Work plan.

To actively contribute to the efficiency of the section by embracing the core values of the Departmental Strategy. To provide the level of service and performance to meet the departmental objectives as defined by the Operational Procurement Lead and Materials Management Supervisor. This requires being flexible in approach to an ever changing, demanding and dynamic NHS working environment.

Undertake any other tasks as allocated by the Procurement and Supplies team.

The work patterns are unpredictable due to the requirements of both customers and suppliers.