Go back Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Category Manager
The closing date is 31 May 2026
At NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS), making a difference is central to our work. If you're motivated by delivering meaningful impact across the NHS, this role could be for you. We are recruiting a Category Manager to join our team.
Why join NHSCS? You'll work at the heart of public sector procurement, directly supporting the NHS. You'll gain experience across diverse sectors, build strong commercial insight, and develop a deep understanding of how public sector organisations operate. You'll collaborate on consultancy projects that deliver tangible value and help design high-impact frameworks that drive efficiency and innovation.
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 workforce, estates, digital and corporate services. It is a critical role and vital to the NHS in supporting the ongoing service pressures across the NHS.
This strategic 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 engagement with our member NHS organisations and other NHS and public sector customers, across a wide range of stakeholders, based locally, regionally and nationally.
Main duties of the job
The position will ultimately work across all procurement categories and will provide sourcing, contract management and consultancy services across a wide range of customers. You will be working as part of the team, including Specialist Category Managers and Lead Category Managers.
The role will work across multiple procurement programmes to improve value and quality for trusts.
This role will provide advisory services, collaborative solutions, supplier market expertise and work with NHS Trusts to build and retain talent.
You will act as an ambassador for NHSCS working with Trusts on procurement, aligning with national strategies. Working closely with key stakeholders and internal and external customers, 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 a need for strong practical implementation experience.
Key responsibilities
* Support the project management of complex procurement activities from initial planning to contract award
* Produce Tender Documents and upload to relevant tendering systems and portals
* Develop contract renewal workplans within the Category
* Track savings and quality improvement benefits to NHS Trusts to deliver best value to the NHS
Our offices are in Dorking, Surrey.
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. We are an NHSE accredited framework host, working in partnership with trusts and with multiple stakeholders to deliver cash releasing savings, cost and quality improvements across a wide range of categories.
We are hosted by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and are based in Dorking.
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.
Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.
Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.
Qualifications
* CIPS qualified, undergoing studies or equivalent relevant experience
* Degree or "A" level education or equivalent relevant qualifications or experience
Experience
* Functional experience in procurement with a clear understanding of best practice techniques in a category management role including:
* 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
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.
Employer name
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
£51,657 to £58,785 a year, including 5% Fringe HCAS
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