Job overview
Working Full time : 37.5 hours per week
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic team as a Category Assistant in the Procurement Department at The Countess of Chester Hospital
The Category Assistant will provide a professional procurement service to the Trust. They will provide procurement advice to both internal and external customers to ensure areas are supported in delivering an effective patient care pathway. The post holder will promote the Trust's procurement strategy and contribute to evolving current and future procurement procedures and practices.
Main duties of the job
- To be responsible for low value Capital, including but not limited to timely delivery, in line with the Standard Operating Procedures, Trust SFI's and stakeholder requirements.
- To manage the generic inbox, directing queries accordingly.
- To provide customers with advice and guidance surrounding the services and procedures provided by the Procurement Department.
- To assist in identifying new areas of cost efficiencies for the Trust
- To ensure the best value for money is obtained by initiating negotiations, taking into account clinical acceptance, quality, timeliness and cost effective distribution
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
- To have NVQ Level 3 in Supply Chain or Procurement or the equivalent buying experience.
- To have Basic understanding / knowledge of procurement / tendering and Contract Law through short courses and experience or equivalent.
Desirable
- To have a minimum of 1 years purchasing experience
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Must be able to meet pre-set schedules and deadlines, and deal with queries efficiently whilst working in a methodical manner, paying particular attention to accuracy
- To respond to unexpected changes and adopt a flexible attitude
- Experience in the use of Microsoft Office applications – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Ability to work unsupervised on own initiative and be an effective team member
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing development.
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 3 roles in Chester
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Category Assistant with Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Countess of Chester Hospital. It is listed as a Band 3 role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 pa. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 26 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (18 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.