Lead Buyer

Go back Derbyshire Community Health Services NHSFT

Lead Buyer

The closing date is 14 January 2026

To provide a high quality, comprehensive, proactive, efficient and responsive procurement service. Emphasis will be on supporting the delivery of compliant and fit for purpose contracts, showing value for money, and generating savings for the Trust in accordance with cost efficiency targets. To deputise for the Contracts Manager as appropriate. The post holder shares responsibility for undertaking complex and high value procurements and associated contract negotiations on behalf of the Trust. The post holder will also liaise with other procurement and contracting authorities and other multi-trust groups as appropriate. To lead procurement work streams as identified and allocated by the Contracts Manager or Head of Procurement

Main duties of the job

Analyse customer requirements, assist in development of comprehensive specificationtender and quotation documents suitable for competitive tendering

Attend working groups and meetings as required and provide professional procurement support and advice to customers on contractual and regulatory issues.

Participate in evaluations of new equipment, consumables or services across the Trust, analysing quality and financial returns

Have and maintain a sound working knowledge and understanding of all public sector procurement directives, regulations and legislation commensurate with the job role.

Maintain good working relationships with customers, suppliers, the Crown Commercial Service, NHS Supply Chain, the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative, other trusts and regulatory bodies.

Develop appropriate purchasing arrangements for areas lacking in contract coverage.

Be aware of and ensure adherence to Trust purchasing policies and external regulatory requirements as appropriate to the product area covered.

Lead and/or conduct tender and contracting activity for allocated contracts and renewals.

Undertake and/or lead official quote and tender exercises and the more complex high value procurements in accordance with SFIs and public sector procurement regulations. Effectively and expertly use eProcurement portals (Atamis) for such tenders

About us

Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.

We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people's own homes and via virtual consultations.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications and Training

• Achieved or working towards the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply's Professional Diploma
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Project Management

Experience and Knowledge Required

• Extensive purchasing/contracting experience.
• Independent ability to produce specifications, quotations, tenders, evaluation criteria, in accordance with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and public sector procurement regulations
• Ability to analyse information, interpret and/or present in a clear, comprehensive format for multi-disciplinary audience
• In depth knowledge of public sector procurement and contracting with sound understanding of PCR 2015 and Procurement Act 23 regulations and legislation
• Proficient in the use of e-tendering systems (Atamis)
• Previous NHS experience
• Health related product knowledge

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHSFT