An opportunity has arisen in the position of a Band 4 Theatre Materials & Equipment Procurement Officer working 37.5 Hours per week.
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, well organised person to work within the theatre team, providing integral support to the Trust.
The post holder is responsible for the operational management of the Theatre Stores Team across the Wigan and Leigh sites, ensuring the effective procurement, receipt, storage, and distribution of stock and supplies required to support safe and efficient theatre services.
The role provides leadership for stock management activities, ensuring products are available when needed, while maintaining financial control and delivering value for money. Working closely with Procurement, Finance, suppliers, and clinical teams, the post holder leads on purchasing decisions, product evaluations, contract management, stock audits, and cost-saving initiatives.
The role also includes responsibility for staff management, performance monitoring, budget reporting, resolving supply chain issues, supporting procurement and tendering processes, and providing specialist advice on theatre supplies and purchasing practices. The post holder has delegated authority to undertake procurement activities up to £50,000 and plays a key role in ensuring compliance with Trust policies, governance requirements, and effective stock management principles.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proud to provide high‑quality acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, our staff are central to everything we do — we believe that happy staff make for happy patients , and this ethos underpins our culture and our success.
We have a strong, recognised track record in staff engagement and in living our values:
People at the Heart
Listen and Involve
Kind and Respectful
ONE Team
We are committed to placing patients at the heart of every decision and delivering safe, effective care that protects dignity and enhances experience. We seek to recruit people who share our values, our passion for high‑quality care, and our belief in working together as One Team.
At WWL, we recognise the strength that comes from a rich and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all sections of society and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
Key results from the job holder
To assist the Theatre Directorate Manger in ensuring that the Trust’s purchasing activities are undertaken in an efficient and effective manner.
Responsible for the day-to-day management/co-ordination and daily duties of Theatre Stores Team on Wigan & Leigh Site
Ensuring process of ordering, stock delivery, stock management is conducted in timely manner and delivered through assessment of theatre team service needs
Investigates & solves supply related problems with companies, i.e. deliveries, invoices
Acts on behalf of theatre by collaborative working with procurement department and leading on theatre specific elements of high value quotes, contracts, and seeking sources of savings opportunities.
Ensure stock team have clear objectives and that the primary focus of these objectives is ensuring items are available at appropriate times to ensure patient needs are met.
Implement new policies/Standard Operating Procedures/Work Instructions into work area, feedback on difficulties and suggested team improvements
Participate in and undertake regular stock audits
To liaise with Trust Procurement team on any changes to purchasing catalogues and ensure that is shared and communicated to the appropriate personnel within theatre.
To work in conjunction with Trust Procurement Team, and companies to ensure that Theatres is maximising benefits through usage volume versus best price where possible.
Planning and Organisational Duties
To ensure stores team work within parameters of effective stock management to ensure theatre teams have the required items at the right place at the right time.
To manage and monitor adherence by the stock team to achieve principles laid down for effective stock management that contribute to the achievement of balanced budget allowance.
To discuss and negotiate with consultants of any requests for new or existing products and advise accordingly status of use or whether it will need to be discussed at Divisional / Procurement level.
To advise theatre stock team on options when placing orders and encourage use of catalogues in line with department and wider Trust strategy.
To meet on a regular basis providing updates to Directorate Manager, but day to day management and decision making of team will be guided by post-holder.
To provide theatre team advice on sourcing products from appropriate suppliers as necessary.
To provide advice and help in respect of general supplies queries from Theatre staff, providing resolution to queries or problems where appropriate.
To provide guidance and support to stock team on which budget line, transfer point items should be accounted to ensuring clarity when analysing budgetary lines
To work with the Trust’s Accounts Payables section to assist in matching orders to invoices when applicable and review to ensure outstanding issues are cleared in a timely manner.
To deal with any issues requiring investigation (e.g. goods returned to suppliers) and work with the Trust’s finance team to bring to resolution.
To produce regular stock & budgetary reports with analysis where required to Theatre Team Leaders and Theatre Directorate Manager that will give an understanding to any changes in supply items, availability or change in pricing.
Provide management information as and when requested to Divisional, Procurement or Finance leads.
Ensure all members of team receive timely annual PDR and are maintain their e-mandatory compliance
Manage staff absence and support through supportive mechanisms as occupational health and associate services.
To link with Trust Procurement team on tendering processes and organise product marketplace/table-top exercises.
To have day-to-day responsibility for advising upon and undertaking procurement activities, this will involve the purchase of goods and services up to a maximum £50k.
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.
