Job Summary
The Category Lead will work as part of the Procurement Team to ensure that the purchase of all goods and services are undertaken in the most efficient and effective manner across Health Procurement Liverpool (HPL), whilst adhering to the Trust(s) standing financial instructions and corporate governance procedures.
The main responsibility will be to manage concurrent projects to ensure the Trust(s) meet annual Cost Improvement Programmes, whilst abiding by relevant Procurement legislation.
The Category Lead will be responsible for supporting the Senior Category Lead and Procurement and Contract Manager in the delivery of the HPL Procurement Strategy and national procurement agendas.
The post holder will be required to support the Strategic Procurement Team in the identification and delivery of Procurement schemes as well as individually leading and delivering a number of projects, which will demonstrate and deliver value for money and innovation whilst meeting the needs of all organisation(s).
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be required to provide sound Procurement advice in-line with Trust(s) standing financial instructions and Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023 to both internal Procurement team members and staff across the HPL organisations whilst engaging, building and maintaining strategic working relationships with both internal/external colleagues and suppliers.
The post holder will work closely with business and clinical colleagues across all HPL organisations to undertake procurement activity which will deliver innovation, meets local, national and regional green agendas whilst delivering value and quality to patient care.
The post holder will also be expected to work alongside and in tandem with the operational procurement teams (P2P and Supply Chain) to ensure the delivery of a professional, joined up and efficient procurement service.
The Category Lead will be responsible for all aspects of purchasing from quotations up to and including above threshold procurement exercises as per the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
About Us
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only NHS trust to hold dual accreditation for the Investors in People. We invest in people and we invest in wellbeing standards and have been awarded Gold status for both. The Walton Centre is a leader in the treatment and care of neurology and neurosurgery, placing the patient and their family at the heart of everything we do. As the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services we are proud to be rated as an Outstanding Trust by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and champion change throughout the field of neuroscience. Originally formed in 1992, the Trust received Foundation Trust status in 2009.
With around 1,450 staff, The Walton Centre treats more than 127,000 outpatients and 18,000 inpatients each year. We have leading specialists and incredibly dedicated staff delivering excellent clinical outcomes for brain, spinal and neurological care nationally and internationally. Teams across our site in Fazakerley, Liverpool, offer a world-class service in diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves and muscles, and in supporting people suffering from a wide range of long-term neurological conditions.
Details
Date posted
13 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
Job locations
The Walton Centre NHS FT
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
L9 7LJ
Job Description
Job responsibilities
Please see the job description and person specification document for detailed information about the job description for this vacancy.
Job Description
Job responsibilities
Please see the job description and person specification document for detailed information about the job description for this vacancy.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications
Qualified or part qualified MCIPS (Level 4/Diploma upwards), actively working towards or equivalent experience
Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
A good standard of general education incl. GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
Desirable
MCIPS qualified
Evidence of continued professional development
Essential
Knowledge & Experience
Relevant experience in an NHS public sector procurement environment
Fully conversant with the application of EU/UK procurement legislation/tendering processes & procedures
Experience of category management, stakeholder & supplier management
Previous experience of coordinating high value/complex tender exercises
Delivery of demanding savings targets through Procurement activities
Experienced in using a range of computer packages /applications
Experienced in the use of EProcurement systems
Desirable
Public sector Procurement experience
Line management experience
Understanding of the current / future NHS agenda in Procurement
Project management experience
Essential
Skills & Attributes
Sound Data Analysis skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met
Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
Ability to build meaningful business relationship both internally across the organisation and externally with suppliers
Person Specification
Essential
Sound Data Analysis skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met
Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
Ability to build meaningful business relationship both internally across the organisation and externally with suppliers
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Walton Centre NHS FT
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
L9 7LJ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Walton Centre NHS FT
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
L9 7LJ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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