Category Manager - Pathology & IT in Ashford

This is a commercially focused procurement role with responsibility for managing a portfolio of non-pay expenditure and delivering strategic sourcing, category management and contract management activity. You will work closely with stakeholders across 2gether Support Solutions Ltd and its customer, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, alongside suppliers, framework providers, NHS Supply Chain and other NHS and public sector organisations. For an experienced procurement professional, the attraction is the opportunity to join at an important point in the development of the function, helping shape how an expanded procurement service delivers value across the hospitals it supports., Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you will take responsibility for delivering procurement and commercial activity across your category, supporting both the day-to-day requirements of the organisation and its longer-term category strategy. Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering strategic sourcing strategies, considering appropriate routes to market and opportunities for collaboration.
• Leading complex procurement exercises, including tenders, quotations, mini-competitions, framework call-offs and full procurements.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with the Procurement Act 2023, Provider Selection Regime, relevant local requirements and organisational policies.
• Identifying and delivering cost savings, efficiencies and wider commercial value in support of Cost Improvement Programmes.
• Working with stakeholders across clinical, operational and corporate functions to understand requirements and develop appropriate procurement solutions.
• Improving contract compliance through effective procurement processes and change management.
• Supporting product and service standardisation initiatives across relevant categories.
• Developing productive supplier relationships to improve performance, service delivery, cost and commercial outcomes.
• Supporting effective contract management, including mobilisation, performance monitoring, change control, extensions, renewals and exit.
• Identifying opportunities to work collaboratively with NHS, regional and wider public sector procurement partners.
• Providing specialist commercial and procurement advice to senior and non-procurement stakeholders.
• Supporting, developing and mentoring members of the Category Management team.
• Working closely with the Senior Category Manager to deliver the wider Category Management Strategy and communicate progress and opportunities to senior stakeholders. As part of this growth, we are looking to appoint a Category Manager to join the team based at William Harvey Hospital., We are looking for an established procurement professional who is comfortable operating in a complex, highly regulated environment and can combine strong technical procurement knowledge with effective stakeholder management.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent contracting, negotiation and project management skills.
• Experience of managing complex, high-value procurement exercises from strategy through to contract award.
• Recent, directly relevant experience of the Procurement Act 2023, Provider Selection Regime, end-to-end ITTs and framework call-offs.
• Experience of delivering meaningful savings and Cost Improvement Programmes.
• Strong knowledge of contracting, procurement law and contract management.
• The ability to analyse complex commercial information and translate it into practical recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
• Experience of supplier and contract management.
• Effective leadership and team management capability.
• Experience of project and change management.
• A degree or equivalent professional experience/qualification.
• Membership of, or progress towards, a professional procurement qualification such as MCIPS.
• Experience within the NHS or wider public sector would be advantageous rather than essential, as would previous Category Management experience and knowledge of systems such as Unit4 Business World and Atamis. We have been retained by 2gether Support Solutions Ltd to support the expansion of its procurement capability across the hospitals and healthcare services it supports in East Kent. This investment represents an exciting opportunity to join a procurement function that is being backed to broaden its offering, strengthen its category management capability and deliver greater commercial value across its healthcare customer base.