Lead Category Manager

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

At NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS), making a difference is important to us. If you're motivated and interested in delivering meaningful progress at the NHS, then this role could be for you.

We are looking for a Lead Category Manager to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career and category management experience as part of our strategic category teams. This role will support a range of categories including Estates, Facilities and Digital, which are critical and vital to the NHS in supporting ongoing service pressures.

This role will be a key driver of value for the NHS and wider public sector through delivering projects, frameworks, and call-off procurements for customers.

The role will include extensive engagement with our member NHS organisations and other NHS and public sector customers, across a wide range of stakeholders, based locally, regionally, and nationally. Key stakeholders also include Integrated Care Systems and NHS England. We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic individual wanting to make a positive difference in the NHS. The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate strong personal skills, extensive experience, and enthusiasm for category management and procurement. They will also be a good communicator, have a strong people-focused approach, and broad commercial acumen.

Main Duties of the Job

This will be a strategic role supporting the Estates, Facilities, and Digital Specialist Category Manager. The position predominantly focuses on category management and will provide sourcing, contract management, and consultancy services across a wide range of customers.

This role will involve multiple procurement programmes to improve value and quality for trusts.

You will be an ambassador for NHSCS, working with senior stakeholders up to Board and Executive level in member Trusts. You will set up and support individual and collaborative project groups working at all levels of stakeholder seniority.

Skills, experience, and a passion for this subject area are essential, together with strong practical implementation experience. This role is based at our office in Dorking, Surrey, with hybrid working three days in the office.

Job Responsibilities

Job Overview

This is a full-time role for an experienced lead category manager who will lead specific strategic sourcing and category-related initiatives for defined projects impacting all stages of the Procurement life cycle for a number of NHS organisations.

You will be expected to take the lead on a portfolio of category initiatives ensuring contract compliance, sustainable cost improvements, and a range of other benefits associated with the commissioning of Category services and products whilst maintaining NHS Commercial Solutions' high standards.

You will work closely with procurement teams to ensure cohesive strategies in the delivery of products and services.

The Role Holder Will

• Support the development and delivery of a strategic and operational procurement service.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure that service specifications, procurement evaluation criteria, and assessment processes are fit for purpose.
• Support delivery against an annual procurement delivery plan in line with the organisation's objectives.
• Manage a rolling workplan capturing and managing procurement intentions for a range of NHS organisations.
• Drive change and innovation within NHSCS to deliver commercial excellence across the region.
• Take the lead in individual procurements, including responsibility for the preparation of tender documentation and assessment of bidder documentation.
• Manage and build relationships within multi-disciplinary procurement project teams.
• Lead the process of evaluation and bid assessment, ensuring equitable, transparent, and defensible processes.
• Provide specialist procurement support and advice to Trust Stakeholders and other partners.
• Maintain accurate records in accordance with good commercial practice.
• Work with the Heads of Procurement across the region to ensure informed decision-making regarding best practice procurement approaches.
• Develop and contribute to procurement methodologies, policies, and procedures.

Person Specification Qualifications

• oCIPS Level 5 Advanced Diploma or equivalent is Essential.
• oDegree or equivalent relevant qualifications or experience.
• Working towards CIPS Level 6 is Desirable, or equivalent qualification or relevant experience.

Experience

• oAt least 5 years' functional experience in procurement with a clear understanding of best practice techniques in category management.
• oRelevant experience in Category Services procurement with a good history of successful delivery.
• oNHS or Public Sector experience including familiarity with UK and EU legislation/law within procurement is required.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer Name

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

£55,877 to £62,626 a year per annum, includes Fringe HCAS