At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing projects and develop category strategies for Business Services.
- Company: Join a leading healthcare organisation during an exciting transformation.
- Benefits: 33 days' leave, pension contributions, training, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a dynamic, multi-site environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on procurement decisions that enhance service quality.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or category management with strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
An excellent chance to join a well-established business in an exciting period of change.
- Category Manager – Business Services
- £60,000 per annum | 12-month fixed-term contract
- Sponsorship is not available for this role
Absolute Recruit is partnering with a leading healthcare organisation to recruit a Category Manager for its Business Services portfolio.
This is an opportunity to take ownership of a varied range of corporate and operational spend, influence commercial decisions and deliver measurable improvements across a complex, multi-site organisation.
You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to shape category strategies, lead sourcing projects and strengthen supplier relationships.
Alongside delivering savings, you'll ensure procurement decisions protect service quality and support the teams delivering care.
The role
- Reporting into the procurement function, your responsibilities will include:
- Developing and delivering category strategies across Business Services.
- Leading end-to-end sourcing projects, from gathering requirements and analysing the market through to tendering, negotiation and implementation.
- Identifying opportunities for savings, supplier consolidation, standardisation and service improvement.
- Negotiating commercial terms and managing contracts, renewals and supplier performance.
- Building strong relationships across Finance, Legal, IT, Information Governance, Clinical and Operational teams.
- Managing supplier and commercial risks, including cost pressures, compliance and business continuity.
- Maintaining clear reporting on sourcing activity, savings, risks and contractual commitments.
About you
You'll bring procurement or category management experience, strong commercial judgement and the confidence to influence stakeholders across a complex organisation.
We're looking for
- A track record of leading tenders, sourcing projects and commercial negotiations.
- Experience developing category strategies and delivering demonstrable savings or wider value.
- Strong supplier relationship and contract management skills.
- The ability to analyse spend data and turn findings into practical recommendations.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement experience is desirable.
- What's on offer
- 33 days' annual leave including bank holidays, plus your birthday off.
- Option to purchase additional annual leave during the annual selection window.
- Pension contribution and life assurance.
- Training and professional development.
- Wellbeing support, a 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Category Manager Fixed Term Contract employer: Absolute Recruit
Join a high-growth, award-winning global human insights and market research business in London, where you'll thrive in a collaborative and creative environment. With a strong focus on employee development, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful qualitative research projects for major global brands while enjoying an excellent benefits package and flexible working arrangements. This role not only offers direct client exposure but also fosters a culture of inclusivity and innovation, making it an ideal place for ambitious researchers looking to grow their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager Fixed Term Contract
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager Fixed Term Contract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Absolute Recruit that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Absolute Recruit can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Absolute Recruit that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Absolute Recruit know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Absolute Recruit
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
