At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage a category with a £10-£20 million spend and lead strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Company: Join KFM, a healthcare support services provider dedicated to world-class patient care.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, annual bonus, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: KFM offers excellent career growth and a commitment to work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while working in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive procurement experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56100 - 63200 £ per year.
As a Category Manager at KFM, you will manage a delegated category within a portfolio with an influenceable annual spend of £10-£20 million. You will lead strategic sourcing initiatives, forge robust supplier relationships, negotiate high‑value contracts, and deliver substantial cost savings aligned with our performance improvement goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Category & Supplier Management: Develop category work plans, execute operational sourcing programs, and ensure all contracts are fully compliant and catalogued.
- Strategic Procurement: Lead tender processes, providing expert guidance on commercial and contractual issues.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary contact for your categories, fostering a proactive client service approach.
- Cost Optimization: Drive savings targets through rigorous contract negotiation and management, aligning with cost improvement programs.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Introduce and implement innovative sourcing solutions to enhance value and efficiency.
Required Skills and Experience
- Procurement Expertise: Extensive experience in category and contract management, UK Public Procurement, and competitive tenders.
- Contract Negotiation: Proven success in negotiating large‑scale contracts and achieving cost savings.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced Microsoft Office skills, with a particular emphasis on Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Why Join Us?
At KFM, we value excellence, collaboration, and innovation. You’ll work in a dynamic environment where your contributions directly support our mission to deliver world‑class healthcare solutions. In addition, KFM offers a supportive culture, opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to work‑life balance.
Benefits
- Welcome Bonus
- Annual Bonus Scheme
- 27 days annual leave (+BH)
- Annual leave purchase scheme
- AVIVA Pension
- Group Life Assurance Policy
- Enhanced Family Leave & Pay
- CPD Funding & Study Leave
- Paid Professional Registration Fees
- Occupational Sick Pay
- Health Cash Plan
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme
- Car Lease Scheme
- Cyclescheme
- Techscheme
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by the deadline. For more information on KFM and our mission, please visit our website.
Closing Date: 11th Jan 2026 at midnight
Interview Dates: 26th & 27th January
About KFM
KFM is a provider of healthcare support services and our purpose is to partner with and support healthcare providers in providing world class patient care, with all profits and cost savings reinvested in the NHS. KFM provides a fully managed service across all clinical areas which includes providing all required clinical supplies and equipment along with maintenance, training and technical support, endoscopy decontamination, sterile services, renal dialysis support, radiology IT support and outpatient pharmacy. KFM also runs a procurement and contract management service for all departments. KFM is a Limited Liability Partnership owned by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with no private sector partners. KFM is a public authority, not a private company. KFM has an annual turnover of around £185 million and over 350 staff.
Category Manager employer: KFM
KFM is an exceptional employer located in London, dedicated to fostering employee development and growth within a supportive HR team. With a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, KFM offers a range of benefits including generous annual leave, professional development funding, and a commitment to reinvesting profits into the NHS, making it a meaningful place to advance your career in Learning & Development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨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
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 KFM 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, KFM 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 KFM 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 KFM 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 KFM
✨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.
