Senior Category Manager Non-Clinical in Huddersfield

Employer Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions Ltd Employer type NHS Site Calderdale and Huddersfield Ltd Town Huddersfield Salary £50,470 Per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 27/09/2026 23:59

CHS is able to offer a wide range of services. Our scale enables us to offer competitive rates and we have a long track record of providing high quality, customer-focused services.

We offer comprehensive estates, facilities management, medical engineering, catering solutions and procurement services supporting the provision of safe, effective healthcare to our communities. We are committed to delivering our Green Plan goals of reducing carbon emissions, air pollution, waste generation and improving recycling throughout delivery of our services. We also enable profit to go back into patient care.

CHS recognises that its staff are its greatest asset and that its business is its people. The company aims to create an environment and culture of openness, trust and honesty. We encourage and celebrate diversity because broader perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge will enrich and enhance the value we bring to each other, our clients, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional to join the CHS Procurement and Supplies team as a Senior Category Manager.

This successful candidate will manager the Non-clinical team which consists of 2 x Assistant Category Managers, 2 x Buyers, an Assistant Buyer and a Procurement Assistant Apprentice.

The role includes extensive customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, category strategy development and implementation, and involves provision of hands‑on support to CHS and CHFT colleagues. The role plays a key part in ensuring CHS/CHFT implements the Procurement Act 2024 and remains compliant at all times.

The post holder:

• Will be responsible for the strategic drive of the procurement team workload.
• Will lead in the high risk high value procurements including Capital, IT, Estates and Corporate.
• Will analyse spend and contract data to identify and deliver CIP and non‑CIP savings.
• Will develop a future procurement plan and be accountable for the activities of the category team.
• Will ensure that the category resource is utilised in the most effective and efficient way.
• Will be the procurement expert for the category and ensure that at all times there is compliance with Provider Selection Regime, Procurement Act 24, Public Contract Regulations 2015, CHS and CHFT Standing Financial Instructions, and UK Legislation.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for the Non-Clinical category team. This includes capital equipping projects, maintenance and lease portfolio management.

Team

• Take day to day supervisory responsibility for the procurement activity of the Non-Clinical team.
• Ensure as far as practicable the use of standard formal documentation and procedures.
• Drive forward the category management agenda ensuring a proactive approach to strategic and operational procurement activity.
• Accountable for the category management activity in Atamis e‑procurement solution ensuring it is kept up to date and can be relied on to provide appropriate management information.

Cross Departmental

• Assist the Deputy Head of Procurement and Supplies in the development and implementation of the Trust’s procurement strategy based on best practice for NHS and public sector procurement and ensuring that such strategy is monitored against objectives and reviewed.
• To provide managerial support across the procurement department and to other senior managers as and when required.

Resource Management

• Manage a robust work plan for the category team ensuring that deployment of category resource is effectively meeting the needs of the organisations stakeholders.
• Deliver an effective communication strategy for the category team ensuring that two way dialogue is available on both an individual basis as well as within a team environment.

Working for our organisation

At CHS we understand the differences in delivering our services in complex environments and we have a flexible approach to meet the needs of our customers. Our Estates and Facilities management functions alongside our Clinical Engineering, decontamination and procurement service, provides the following:

• Fully managed estate and building maintenance
• Clinical Engineering and Decontamination
• Procurement advice, guidance and governance
• Capital project management
• Transport
• Grounds maintenance.
• Catering
• Cleaning (including robot and deep cleaning)

All provided to nationally recognised standards giving you assurance that your premises and equipment will be the best they can, and your customers will have confidence in you as a provider.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Contract Law knowledge
• Commitment to personal development
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Stakeholder Management
• Liaising with ICS, WYAAT, DOH, NHS Supply Chain and any applicable Procurement Hub and other appropriate organisations, to benefit from sharing best practice, including the provision of data.
• Represent and Chair where appropriate any regional collaboration meetings to identify and drive collaboration.
• Working collaboratively with other Trusts to rationalise products and suppliers, and agreeing and achieving savings and other value added benefits.

Self Management

• Attend all mandatory training as required by CHS/Trust including Central Commercial Function and Cabinet Office training.
• Lead by example when mentoring team members, being the pillar of support.
• Participate in the annual appraisal process including putting in place development plans.
• Seek advice and support from line manager and other colleagues within the procurement team.
• Be open to change, amend working practices in response to changes in process with a positive
• Be open, honest, respectful and reliable.
• Be enthusiastic and passionate when adhering to company values and engaging in your personal development.
• Be attentive to the detail in any procurement and negotiation activity.
• Be professional, impartial and unbiased in your communication, advice and recommendations to procurement stakeholders or colleagues.

Compliance

• Compliance to both internal and best practise processes and procedures which achieve best value for money when procuring products & services whilst also ensuring compliance with contracts and Trust/EU standard procurement practice.
• Ensure that the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions (SFI’s) and the Trust’s and NHS procurement policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Ensure that any queries, complaints or discrepancies reported to the department are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner, including product advice to members of the public and GP practices.
• Assist in the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures and support activities which ensure compliance to accredited standards awarded to the organisation.
• Ensure effective supplier management to ensure compliance to contractual arrangements, KPIs and specifications as well as providing support in the event of market disruption and supplier failure which causes an issue with supply/service delivery.

Stakeholder

• Effective stakeholder management strategies deployed when undertaking procurement activities/projects to ensure best outcomes are achieved for all parties.
• Provide procurement advice, support to Trust staff working on procurement tasks.

Qualifications

• or equivalent and proven training and professional experience

General

• Able to fulfil the health requirements of the post as identified in the Job Description, taking into account any reasonable adjustments recommended by Occupational Health
• Must be eligible to work in the UK
• Ability to work in various locations throughout the network of services provided by the Company/Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
• Willing to work in a flexible manner as and when desired
• Full UK Driving Licence

Experience

• Experience of handling complex procurement projects
• Experience of implementing procurement strategy, policy and procedure
• Experience of detailed analysis of data relating to the review of product use, cost and savings
• Experience of e‑procurement solutions such as Atamis
• Experience in planning, organising and managing procurement projects and tender exercises
• Experience of supplier management including resolution of supply challenges
• Experience of delivering a stakeholder management strategy
• Experience of collaborative procurement across multiple organisations

Knowledge & Skills

• Thorough understanding of the Public Sector procurement
• Understanding of basic contract law
• Complete understanding and knowledge of Public Contract Regulations 2015
• Practical working knowledge of public procurement
• Understanding of the Procurement Act 2024
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to lead and motivate
• Thorough understanding of current NHS Procurement Landscape
• Knowledge and understanding of Acute Trust Procurement
• Understanding of change management tools and techniques

Calderdale and Huddersfield Solutions (CHS) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

If you have any questions please contact ask.recruitment@cht.nhs.uk for assistance.

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