Category Manager (Manager & Senior Manager)

Home-based with regular travel to London and Home Counties Opportunity The NHS is entering a critical period of reform, with increasing pressure to deliver value and sustainability across complex provider and system environments. Procurement has a pivotal role to play in enabling this change; delivering financial savings, supporting service transformation and strengthening supplier and stakeholder relationships. Role In this role you will be responsible for: Developing category strategies based on spend analysis, demand management, market insights and organisational priorities (clinical and non-clinical categories) Identifying savings, efficiencies, service improvements, and risk reduction opportunities Understanding supplier markets and using insight to inform sourcing strategies, procurement routes, specification development and how to drive best value Making sure that category plans translate into practical delivery projects that deliver impact Reducing in-year contract spend for contracts that are live.

Leading end-to-end procurement processes from early market engagement through to award and mobilisation Providing procurement leadership for clients, including leading different spend categories Operating effectively in hybrid delivery models, with regular on-site presence within Provider Trusts Ensuring robust governance, delivery discipline and stakeholder confidence Providing expert advice and leadership on procurement compliance (Procurement Act 2023 / Provider Selection Regime / NHS Procurement policy / NHS Standard T&Cs) Skills and Ways of Working You will demonstrate: Strong leadership skills, with the confidence to work autonomously and make sound decisions A customer-focussed and outcome-led mindset A passion for delivering savings for the public sector Agile and adaptable ways of working The ability to prioritise short-term and long-term initiatives aligned to organisational priorities Excellent risk management approach with a balance between outcomes/timescales and process/compliance A strong action-orientation and delivery focus Resilience in challenging environments Clear, confident communication skills at all levels Able to provide assurance through delivery to clients A commitment to team development and capability building Stakeholder Engagement You will work closely with: Clinical leaders Operational teams Budget holders Executive and senior leaders Working Environment The role will be in an NHS provider. The working environment is: Fast-paced, dynamic and often pressurised Frequently operating in turnaround or financial recovery contexts Requires resilience, adaptability and pace There is a high degree of focus on delivering cost savings either tactically or strategically About You Your current role You will bring: Category management expertise and experience Demonstrable delivery against challenging financial savings targets Experience of introducing innovative approaches, processes and ways of working A clear personal track record of delivery, impact and procurement leadership The ability to analyse spend, contracts, pricing models and supplier proposals Manager Public sector procurement experience Procurement Act 2023 knowledge required Provider Selection Regime experience Senior Manager Significant acute or provider-side procurement experience Procurement Act 2023 knowledge required Provider Selection Regime experience Your Achievements Successful candidates will be able to evidence: Delivery of material financial savings You will have held a Category Management role Making and owning difficult decisions Being visible with strong senior-level engagement and communication skills Effective deployment of category management and strategic sourcing practices Ability to provide assurance, through delivery and management of others, to senior leaders Manager Achievements Working with budget holders, operational teams and senior managers Handling moderately complex procurements Experience in managing risk Senior Manager Achievements Influencing executive, director and senior clinical stakeholders Leading high-risk, high-value procurements Experience in managing and mitigating risk Your Career Background We are looking for candidates who have: Manager A track record of delivering financial savings MCIPS desirable; relevant procurement experience essential Led or supported procurement categories Delivered full lifecycle procurement projects Senior Manager A track record of delivering multi-million£ financial savings MCIPS desirable; significant relevant procurement experience essential Led one or more large complexity procurement categories end-to-end Delivered full lifecycle procurement projects Private sector experience advantageous A strong strategic and organisational knowledge Your Personal Attributes You will be: Motivated by clear targets and accountability Aligned to Attain’s values-led culture Comfortable being held to account for outcomes and savings Bringing a competitive mindset, proactively identifying opportunities to create value, improve outcomes and strengthen our clients’ commercial position Comfortable challenging the status quo, spotting commercial openings and acting with pace to convert ideas into tangible results Innovative, demonstrate curiosity and have passion for the category you lead Pragmatic and challenge unnecessary process and avoid procurement for procurement’s sake; focuses on what adds value and keeps activity proportionate, compliant and aligned to the desired outcomes Relentless in identifying and pursuing saving opportunities and improvements Calm, credible and assured under pressure Commercial mindset Highly analytical, be able to interpret data and have strong problem-solving skills Benefits Competitive salary Performance/profit-based annual bonus of up to 10% 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays 6% employer contribution pension scheme Company-paid subscription to a professional body Hybrid working but also opportunities to work in coworking spaces A suite of learning tools to support continuing professional development Experience a rich variety of delivery projects across different care areas #J-18808-Ljbffr