Purchasing Buyer

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHSFT

The closing date is 02 March 2026

The Procurement Department is looking for a customer-focused, methodical, enthusiastic buyer with good communication and negotiation skills to join our small friendly team.

This position involves working with all services across the trust to procure goods and services at the best value for money so delivering a trusted and compliant procurement service.

The successful applicant will work as part of the busy operational purchasing team and will be required to be involved in the day to day purchasing and supply needs of the Trust, ensuring that critical supplies of medical and related goods are purchased in a timely manner and to the rigorous standards of the NHS. This is a crucial role and one which requires the successful candidate to have a determined approach to their work, balancing cost and quality issues.

The overriding aim is to guarantee the needs of our wards, services and departments are always delivered on time, to maintain patient care. The Procurement Department also takes a leading role in identifying and reporting on cost improvements and the activity of the Buyer is central to this process.

Overarching duties will be the purchasing of goods and services utilizing the Unit 4 (Agresso) Purchase to Pay eProcurement system whilst seeking opportunities to save money or add value. You will deal with queries and requests for information on a daily basis and will need to build and maintain sound customer and supplier relationships.

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.

During the pandemic response we have led the implementation of public vaccination centres in collaboration with partners across health and social care.

• Undertake the purchase of goods and services including call‑off supply arrangements in accordance with agreed standards and targets
• Place orders in such a manner as to ensure proper delivery receipting and payment
• Deal with queries and requests for information to provide a full and extensive response/resolution
• Be aware of and ensure adherence to trust purchasing policies and external regulatory requirements as appropriate to the product area covered
• Build and maintain sound customer and supplier relationships
• Develop and maintain a sound knowledge of delegated product areas
• Expedite orders on behalf of customers in accordance with agreed protocols
• Develop and maintain a sound working knowledge of regulatory and legal issues commensurate with the job role
• Undertake official quotations for low value contracts and orders in accordance with SFIs where appropriate
• Provide advice and guidance to customers on all procurement related issues
• Adhere to the Trusts Procurement Strategy and Policy and actively participate in the delivery of the Procurement Plan
• Carry out robust and timely supplier and contract management for key purchasing suppliers
• Act on Unit 4 workflow tasks in a timely and responsive manner to resolve issues
• Identify repeat products and following a full value for money exercise, put forward for consideration as a catalogue product
• Monitor purchasing trends
• Liaise with end‑users at all levels to ensure compliance in the use of standardised products and catalogues
• Research and streamline the supplier and product base so the Trust can benefit from greater purchasing leverage
• To attend any relevant training as requested
• To act as an ambassador for the Procurement team and promote benefits to customers
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

• oGCSE Grade C English and Mathematics or equivalent
• oWillingness to undertake further appropriate study
• oChartered Institute of Procurement and Supply's Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations

• Purchasing/contracting experience.
• Experience of a fully integrated P2P system and use of the Internet.
• Confidence to liaise and discuss with end users their choice of product and specification to secure best value for money including a challenge on essential spend
• Are you currently employed by JUCD employer
• oPrevious NHS experience

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