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- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies for 250 care homes and hospitals across the UK.
- Company: Join Barchester, a caring organisation dedicated to quality healthcare.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, hybrid working, and retail discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while growing your career.
- Qualifications: 3 years in category management and strong Microsoft Office skills.
- Other info: Empowering environment with opportunities for professional development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Barchester's procurement team have a new opportunity for a Category Lead to join the Barchester family. Offering hybrid working, with 3 days in our established Warrington office and 2 days working from home. In this vital position you will provide essential support in the evolvement of the procurement function, supporting our portfolio of 250 care homes and hospitals across the UK. You will work closely with suppliers, ensuring that we have relevant, and up to date data, and services are being delivered as agreed to meet the needs of the business and the procurement strategy. You will also form trusting, professional relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure they can make effective decisions, specifically for your allocated categories. This is a permanent, hybrid position.
Required experience and qualifications:
- 3 years previous experience in category management in goods and services
- Experience of managing, reporting, and providing recommendations on a number of projects running simultaneously
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Full UK driving licence
Role and responsibilities:
- Provide day‑to‑day support on category queries
- Manage product and price file updates, communicating changes to the business
- Proactively manage category suppliers and develop a strong performance culture
- Analyse data to create category management approaches that deliver against the business strategies
- Utilise a source to pay system to identify trends and suggest process improvements
- Identify opportunities to deliver value to the business through management of supplier contracts and delivery of competitive tenders
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment in the delivery of the category service with their requirements and expectations
- Support the development of business cases documenting supplier selection strategies
- Deliver projects within agreed timescales
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Ability to work from home up to 2 days per week
- Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral
- Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets
- Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need to make a decision with confidence
- Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services
If you’d like to use your procurement expertise in an organisation that provides the quality care you’d expect for your loved ones, this is an empowering and rewarding place to be. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to grow your career in a large organisation with a warm and supportive environment.
Category Lead in Warrington employer: HealthJobs4U Ltd
Contact Detail:
HealthJobs4U Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Lead in Warrington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the procurement field, especially those who work at Barchester or similar organisations. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Barchester’s values and how they align with your experience in category management. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their procurement strategy.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your data skills! Since the role involves analysing data for category management, be prepared to share examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Lead in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Lead role. Highlight your experience in category management and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about procurement and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality come through.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since data analysis is key for this role, make sure to mention any experience you have with analysing data and creating management approaches. We’re keen to see how you can use data to drive decisions and improvements!
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 you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at HealthJobs4U Ltd
✨Know Your Categories
Before the interview, dive deep into the categories you'll be managing. Understand the current trends, challenges, and opportunities in procurement for care homes and hospitals. This will show your potential employer that you're not just familiar with the role but genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since analysing data is key to this role, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past projects. Be ready to discuss specific tools or methods you’ve employed to identify trends and suggest improvements.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in forming professional relationships with stakeholders. Prepare anecdotes that demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively and how you’ve navigated challenges in past roles to ensure alignment with business needs.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, like managing supplier performance or dealing with conflicting stakeholder requirements. Think through your responses ahead of time, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
