Category Manager

Can you see yourself joining an established procurement team as Category Manager, supporting several upcoming exciting projects and helping to shape the future of the NHS? We are looking for a Category Manager to join our procurement solutions team! Our corporate Procurement services cover framework agreements, consultancy, and procurement function, all delivered by skilled teams through efficient technology platforms. You will lead a delegated category portfolio to implement strategic sourcing and partner management, lower costs, deliver savings targets, and strengthen relationships with key suppliers. This position is predominantly home based, but there is an expectation to attend meetings at our Salford office once/ twice per month or where business needs are required. Our modern Salford office sits in an iconic waterfront location positioned on the historic Manchester Ship Canal. NHS Shared Business Services offers great career progression. We have benefits which you can flex to meet your needs and training and development opportunities. What you will be doing: Providing a procurement support function for clients and handling tender activity appropriate to category through to contract award. Taking an active role in developing the annual work plan and implementing policy, supplying to short and long-term category strategies. Reviewing, negotiating, re-negotiating and drafting contracts for cost optimisation and savings targets. Taking the lead across a complex high value project portfolio, building knowledge and expertise. Developing and improving key supplier relationships and explore new business opportunities. Working with clients to develop constructive relationships with operational contract managers, providing support to make sure effective delivery of outcomes. What you’ll bring: Experience of Procurement Act 2023, PCR 2015, EU/UK regulations and company policies, Provider Selection Regime desirable but not essential as open to candidates from a general procurement background Experience of working in procurement, commissioning, bid writing or contract management team. Knowledge and skill in procurement process, (scoping, briefing, tendering, selection, contract negotiation, including service level agreements, and management of suppliers. Reporting and providing evidence to the procurement team of savings and benefits delivered through the effective management of the vendor base. Knowledge and experience in conducting market research and willingness to become a category SME in their chosen area. Validated analytic skills (analysis of information, interpreting and communicating findings. It would be great if you had: CIPS level 4, working towards or willingness to achieve. Knowledge of Procurement ERP systems, eSourcing tools. If you are interested in this role but not sure if your skills and experience are exactly what we’re looking for, please do apply, we’d love to hear from you! Employment Type: Full-time Permanent Location: Salford Security Clearance Level: DBS Internal Recruiter: Adrian Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum Benefits: 25 days annual leave with the choice to buy additional days, health cash plan, life assurance and pension Although this role is advertised as full-time, we believe that flexibility at work can promote work/life balance, increase your motivation, reduce stress and improves performance and productivity. We support different ways of working and can offer a range of flexible working arrangements. So, if you’re interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible. Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us? NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created by the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, we make life easier for NHS employees, patients, and suppliers, and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. Proud members of the NHS family, we provide finance & accounting, digital, procurement and workforce services to more than half the NHS in England, and our solutions are underpinned by cutting-edge technologies and our teams’ expertise, in-depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence. We share common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, are committed to being a force for good, and are dedicated and empowered to act responsibly and sustainably at organisational, team and individual level. Would you like to join us on our journey?