Lead Category Manager
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 11 January 2026
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Lead Category Manager to join our dynamic collaborative procurement organisation.
In this senior role, you will drive strategic sourcing, deliver high-value contracts and frameworks, and lead category initiatives that support quality patient care and operational efficiency across the organisation.
If you're passionate about driving excellence in NHS procurement and making a tangible impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading end-to-end category management across allocated portfolios
* Developing and delivering category strategies aligned to organisational priorities
* Managing complex procurements in accordance with PA23, PSR 24 and NHS best practice
* Building strong stakeholder relationships and providing expert procurement advice
* Delivering measurable savings, sustainability benefits, and improved service outcomes
* Supporting and mentoring procurement colleagues
About you
You will be an influential, solutions-focused procurement professional with strong commercial acumen, excellent communication skills, and proven experience managing high-value categories. MCIPS (or working towards) is required or a suitable equivalent.
About us
NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS) is a collaborative procurement NHS organisation providing strategic procurement services to NHS organisations within Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and further afield. NHSCS has delivered savings in excess of £300m working in partnership with trusts and with multiple stakeholders to deliver cash releasing savings, cost and quality improvements across a wide range of categories. NHSCS is hosted by SABP NHS Foundation Trust.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.
We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.
Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.
Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Job responsibilities
My job makes better lives by
Supporting the category teams and customer Trusts by working with stakeholders and suppliers to build a reputation for procurement excellence within NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS). Leveraging new commercial opportunities and delivering procurement projects and frameworks. Maintaining relationships with existing clients and building new relationships by delivering a high-quality service, ensuring sourcing solutions are in place. Facilitating delivery of new contracts and monitoring contracts resulting in high-quality, value-for-money goods and services for customers. Helping to secure cash and efficiency savings for NHS Trusts across the country to release resources and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Job Overview
This is a full-time role for an experienced Lead Category Manager who will lead a wide range of strategic sourcing, consultancy projects and category‑related initiatives for defined projects impacting all stages of the procurement life cycle for NHS organisations.
You will take the lead on a portfolio of initiatives across a wide range of categories, 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 all teams across the organisation to ensure cohesive strategies in the delivery of categories, products and services.
Key Responsibilities
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 and will result in the effective procurement of individual services
* Support delivery against an annual procurement delivery plan in line with the organisation's objectives to support Acute, Community and Mental Health Trusts for collaborative and independent projects
* 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. 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.
* Be responsible for maintaining communications around any current procurements and for preparing briefings for internal and external stakeholders.
* Lead the process of evaluation and bid assessment, ensuring that the processes are equitable, transparent and defensible and ensure that the customer attains best quality and value.
* Be responsible for the assessment of bidder documentation according to financial viability, risk, sustainability and alignment with current strategies.
* Liaise with and manage external contractors, maintaining effective partnership working whenever external procurement resource is required.
* Provide specialist procurement support and advice to Trust Stakeholders and other partners.
* Be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the overall approach and ensuring systems and processes for procurement are appropriate, fair, transparent and non‑discriminatory in line with national policy and relevant legislation.
* Maintain accurate records in accordance with good commercial practice, Standing Orders and the relevant organisations Freedom of Information Policy.
* Work with the Heads of Procurement across the region to ensure the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding the best practice procurement approach.
* Advise on the impact of the procurements and the implementation of NHS policy or initiatives and service developments.
* Develop and contribute to procurement methodologies, policies and procedures.
* Advise on best practice procurement, working collaboratively with other agencies wherever possible.
Suitable for someone who has
* Excellent communication skills; verbal, written, and presentational.
* Strong analytical skills.
* The ability to understand and interpret complex data and information and utilise it effectively to inform others and influence key decision makers.
* A keen eye for detail with good organisational skills.
* The ability to concentrate for long periods of time with frequent interruptions.
* The ability to multitask and switch tasks efficiently.
* A proactive mindset.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
Key Relationships
The candidate will be required to maintain strong relationships with:
* Trust Heads of Procurement and procurement teams
* NHS Commercial Solutions Executive Team
* Project Stakeholders
* NHS and public sector collaborative procurement colleagues
* External partners including engagement with the public
* Existing providers
* Potential new entrants to the provider market
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Has a degree as a minimum
* Is CIPS level 5
* Working towards MCIPS
Experience
* Minimum 5 years experience in procurement
* Demonstrates understanding of best practice techniques in category management.
* NHS or Public Sector experience
* Has procurement legislation knowledge
* Ability to read and interpret data and apply the findings
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
£57,888 to £64,880 a year Per annum, includes Fringe HCAS
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