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- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies to drive savings and improve services in the NHS.
- Company: Join a dynamic NHS provider focused on impactful change.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public health while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and public sector procurement is essential.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Home-based with regular travel to London and Home Counties Opportunity. The NHS is entering a critical period of reform, with increasing pressure to deliver value and sustainability across complex provider and system environments. Procurement has a pivotal role to play in enabling this change; delivering financial savings, supporting service transformation and strengthening supplier and stakeholder relationships.
In this role you will be responsible for:
- Developing category strategies based on spend analysis, demand management, market insights and organisational priorities (clinical and non-clinical categories)
- Identifying savings, efficiencies, service improvements, and risk reduction opportunities
- Understanding supplier markets and using insight to inform sourcing strategies, procurement routes, specification development and how to drive best value
- Making sure that category plans translate into practical delivery projects that deliver impact
- Reducing in-year contract spend for contracts that are live
- Leading end-to-end procurement processes from early market engagement through to award and mobilisation
- Providing procurement leadership for clients, including leading different spend categories
- Operating effectively in hybrid delivery models, with regular on-site presence within Provider Trusts
- Ensuring robust governance, delivery discipline and stakeholder confidence
- Providing expert advice and leadership on procurement compliance (Procurement Act 2023 / Provider Selection Regime / NHS Procurement policy / NHS Standard T&Cs)
Skills and Ways of Working You will demonstrate:
- Strong leadership skills, with the confidence to work autonomously and make sound decisions
- A customer-focussed and outcome-led mindset
- A passion for delivering savings for the public sector
- Agile and adaptable ways of working
- The ability to prioritise short-term and long-term initiatives aligned to organisational priorities
- Excellent risk management approach with a balance between outcomes/timescales and process/compliance
- A strong action-orientation and delivery focus
- Resilience in challenging environments
- Clear, confident communication skills at all levels
- Able to provide assurance through delivery to clients
- A commitment to team development and capability building
Stakeholder Engagement You will work closely with:
- Clinical leaders
- Operational teams
- Budget holders
- Executive and senior leaders
Working Environment The role will be in an NHS provider. The working environment is:
- Fast-paced, dynamic and often pressurised
- Frequently operating in turnaround or financial recovery contexts
- Requires resilience, adaptability and pace
- There is a high degree of focus on delivering cost savings either tactically or strategically
About You Your current role You will bring:
- Category management expertise and experience
- Demonstrable delivery against challenging financial savings targets
- Experience of introducing innovative approaches, processes and ways of working
- A clear personal track record of delivery, impact and procurement leadership
- The ability to analyse spend, contracts, pricing models and supplier proposals
Manager
- Public sector procurement experience
- Procurement Act 2023 knowledge required
- Provider Selection Regime experience
Senior Manager
- Significant acute or provider-side procurement experience
- Procurement Act 2023 knowledge required
- Provider Selection Regime experience
Your Achievements Successful candidates will be able to evidence:
- Delivery of material financial savings
- You will have held a Category Management role
- Making and owning difficult decisions
- Being visible with strong senior-level engagement and communication skills
- Effective deployment of category management and strategic sourcing practices
- Ability to provide assurance, through delivery and management of others, to senior leaders
Manager Achievements
- Working with budget holders, operational teams and senior managers
- Handling moderately complex procurements
- Experience in managing risk
Senior Manager Achievements
- Influencing executive, director and senior clinical stakeholders
- Leading high-risk, high-value procurements
- Experience in managing and mitigating risk
Your Career Background We are looking for candidates who have:
Manager
- A track record of delivering financial savings
- MCIPS desirable; relevant procurement experience essential
- Led or supported procurement categories
- Delivered full lifecycle procurement projects
Senior Manager
- A track record of delivering multi-million£ financial savings
- MCIPS desirable; significant relevant procurement experience essential
- Led one or more large complexity procurement categories end-to-end
- Delivered full lifecycle procurement projects
- Private sector experience advantageous
- A strong strategic and organisational knowledge
Your Personal Attributes You will be:
- Motivated by clear targets and accountability
- Aligned to Attain’s values-led culture
- Comfortable being held to account for outcomes and savings
- Bringing a competitive mindset, proactively identifying opportunities to create value, improve outcomes and strengthen our clients’ commercial position
- Comfortable challenging the status quo, spotting commercial openings and acting with pace to convert ideas into tangible results
- Innovative, demonstrate curiosity and have passion for the category you lead
- Pragmatic and challenge unnecessary process and avoid procurement for procurement’s sake; focuses on what adds value and keeps activity proportionate, compliant and aligned to the desired outcomes
- Relentless in identifying and pursuing saving opportunities and improvements
- Calm, credible and assured under pressure
- Commercial mindset
- Highly analytical, be able to interpret data and have strong problem-solving skills
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Performance/profit-based annual bonus of up to 10%
- 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays
- 6% employer contribution pension scheme
- Company-paid subscription to a professional body
- Hybrid working but also opportunities to work in coworking spaces
- A suite of learning tools to support continuing professional development
- Experience a rich variety of delivery projects across different care areas
Category Manager (Manager & Senior Manager) in London employer: Attain
Contact Detail:
Attain Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager (Manager & Senior Manager) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the NHS or procurement sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meet-ups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the latest trends in NHS procurement. Understand the challenges they face and think about how your skills can help tackle them. This will show you're not just interested in the role but are genuinely invested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your past experiences align with the job requirements. Use specific examples that highlight your achievements in category management and financial savings. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager (Manager & Senior Manager) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Category Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement, especially any achievements related to financial savings and category management. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past roles that showcase your leadership, risk management, and stakeholder engagement abilities. We love seeing how you've made an impact in previous positions.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Attain
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on your financial savings achievements. Be ready to discuss specific figures and how you achieved them. This will show your potential employer that you have a strong grasp of category management and can deliver results.
✨Understand the Procurement Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the latest updates on the Procurement Act 2023 and the Provider Selection Regime. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to staying informed in the field.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led procurement processes or teams in the past. Highlight your ability to make tough decisions and engage with senior stakeholders. This will illustrate your leadership capabilities and how you can add value to their organisation.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific procurement challenges. Think about your approach to risk management and delivering savings under pressure. Practising these scenarios will help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.