Category Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Overview

This is a full time, fixed term role for a Category Manager who will deliver procurement and contract support to our category teams.

The role holder will work with the Specialist Caegory Manager and Lead Category Manager to deliver cost and efficiency savings to our customer trusts.

The role holder will be efficient and capable, providing exceptional category support to our procurement specialists.

You will regularly liaise with stakeholders, suppliers, and category managers, ensuring 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 establish and maintain effective relationships with all our internal and external customers, gaining trust and commitment by understanding their needs and requirements and providing them with successful outcomes.

The role holder will:

• Support sourcing, procurement and contract management projects, and contribute significantly to their delivery across the region.
• Track savings and quality improvement benefits to NHS Trusts to deliver best value to the NHS.
• Use internal and external reporting information management tools, including project management, contract management, spend analysis and benefits tracking tools.
• Report data and information using presentations, charts, pivot tables using agreed formats and protocols.
• 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.
• Co-ordinate contract compliance activities for each category project across all member Trusts to ensure long term sustainability and safe compliance.
• Use organisations sourcing methodologies and procedures to ensure consistency and transparency of any projects, tenders and evaluations carried out on behalf of the organisation or Trusts
• Update and develop new knowledge and skills and share relevant information with other Category Managers, Lead Category Managers, Specialist Category Managers and Associate Procurement Directors.
• Travel throughout the customer base to ensure that personal contact is maintained with stakeholders
• Undertake supplier and customer market research to support the development of Strategic sourcing strategies such as collecting and collating information regarding supplier performance.
• Conduct analysis to support individual procurement projects and assess impact on budgets for Trusts.

Suitable for someone who

• Has experience and expertise of contract management and procurement projects, passionate about improving services, securing high-quality value for money goods and services.
• The post holder will enjoy working in a complex environment, demonstrate attention to detail, embrace change, be able to work without supervision, work to tight and varying timescales
• The post holder will be able to build strong relationships with key contacts within the customer organisations, promoting the service being provided, initiatives underway, and future initiatives.
• Has strong persuasion and influencing skills
• Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Enjoys being busy and having a very varied workload, with an ability to manage multiple tasks and achieve demanding deadlines
• Strong IT skills with a good knowledge of Excel and familiar with analysing large amounts of data, spotting trends and anomalies, and with an exceptional eye for detail and accuracy
• Works well in a team and shares knowledge supportively

Key Relationships

• Associate Procurement Director
• Specialist Category Manager
• Lead Category Manager
• NHSCS team members and stakeholders

NHS Commercial Solutions is an agency of Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust acting as a host organisation for NHS Commercial Solutions. The host provides the legal framework and supporting services under which NHS Commercial Solutions operates.

Developing networks and communicating appropriately with stakeholders and key communication links which may include:

• NHS Commercial Solutions Executive Team
• Trust Heads of Procurement and procurement teams
• Project Stakeholders including Trust departmental Directors and finance teams.
• Integrated Care Systems and related Boards
• NHS and public sector collaborative procurement colleagues
• External partners including engagement with the public, NHS England, and other national bodies
• Suppliers and Supplier Trade/Professional Bodies

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing key relationships and working with other Category Managers, Lead Category Managers, Specialist Category Managers and Clinical Procurement Specialists, sharing information as relevant.
• Communicating with groups as part of the process of tender evaluation and contract award recommendation.
• Securing significant cash savings for customers through efficient procurement of products and services.
• Notify key personnel within trusts of contract awards and give guidance on contract implementation.
• Participate in relevant internal and external working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide project information and analytical advice and expertise.
• Require applying their skills at the level as per the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework

Person Specification

Qualifications

• oCIPS qualified, undergoing studies or equivalent relevant experience
• oDegree or "A" level education or equivalent relevant qualifications or experience

Experience

• oFunctional experience in procurement with a clear understanding of best practice techniques in a category management role
• oNHS or Public Sector experience including familiarity with UK and EU legislation/law within procurement is required
• oRelevant experience to Category Services procurement with a good history of successful delivery

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 details

Employer name

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

NHS Commercial Solutions

The Atrium Business Centre, Curtis Road

Dorking

RH4 1XA

https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/working-for-us