Lead Category Manager

This is a full time role for an experienced lead category manager who will come in to 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 .

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

• 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 and will result in the effective procurement of individual services
• Support delivery against an annual procurement delivery plan in line with the organisations objectives to support Acute, Community and Mental Health Trusts for collaborative and independent projects
• To manage a rolling workplan capturing and managing procurement intentions for a range of NHS organisations.
• To drive change and innovation within NHSCS, in order to deliver commercial excellence across the region. This will be achieved by focusing on:
• improving stakeholder benefit and advantage through new solutions.
• engaging with stakeholders to understand their strategic integrated business plans and developing solutions that meet the needs.
• developing and implementing project solutions, both on a collaborative and bespoke project management basis.
• engaging with supplier markets to maintain the highest standard of market intelligence
• Take the lead in individual procurements including responsibility for the preparation of tender documentation, undertaking briefings, assessment of bidder documentation according to financial viability, risk, sustainability and alignment with collaborative procurement strategies
• Manage and build relationships within multi-disciplinary procurement project teams

Experience required

• At least 5 years' functional experience in procurement with a clear understanding of best practice techniques in category management.
• Relevant experience to Category Services procurement with a good history of successful delivery.

* NHS or Public Sector experience including familiarity with UK and EU legislation/law within procurement is required