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Job overview
North West London Procurement Services (NWL PS), hosted by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, provides strategic procurement and supply chain management services across NHS organisations within NW London.
The Category Manager plays a key strategic role in leading the delivery of complex healthcare commissioning and procurement activity across the Integrated Care System (ICS). Working closely with Commissioners, Contracting, Finance and Operational colleagues, the postholder will lead elements of the commercial lifecycle, supporting the delivery of high-quality, value-driven healthcare services through strategic category management, procurement leadership and commercial planning.
The postholder will contribute to the development and implementation of Category and Commercial Strategies, ensuring procurement activity is aligned to organisational priorities, and commissioning intentions. The role requires a strong understanding of the healthcare market, procurement legislation, commercial strategy and category management principles to provide expert advice and support to stakeholders.
The Category Manager will have delegated responsibility for defined elements of the commercial lifecycle, including market intelligence, category planning, procurement strategy development, procurement governance and commercial work planning, supporting the delivery of innovative, compliant and value-for-money procurement solutions.
Main duties of the job
You will play a key role in delivering strategic procurement and category management across a diverse portfolio of commissioned healthcare services. Your responsibilities will include:
* Leading complex procurement projects from business case development through to contract award, ensuring compliance with Procurement Regulations. * Supporting the development and implementation of Category and Commercial Strategies aligned to commissioning priorities and organisational objectives. * Maintaining a strategic overview of the Community & Mental Health Services portfolio, identifying opportunities to improve value for money, standardise service provision and support service transformation. * Undertaking market analysis and market engagement activities to inform procurement strategies and commissioning decisions. * Managing procurement pipelines, through the Atamis e-sourcing system, ensuring accurate reporting and forward planning. * Providing specialist procurement advice and guidance to Commissioners, Contracting, Finance and Operational colleagues. * Developing strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders to support effective procurement planning and delivery. * Producing procurement reports, management information and commercial insights to support strategic decision-making. * Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, procurement governance and the development of best practice procurement processes.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Applicants are expected to present clear and relevant evidence of the competencies and responsibilities detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification, together with a demonstrated commitment to the Trust’s values of Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience delivering healthcare procurements under NHS procurement regulations
- Experience applying the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
- Experience applying the Procurement Act 2023 and/or Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
- Experience leading complex end-to-end procurement projects from business case development through to contract award.
- Experience of procurement governance, audit requirements and maintaining robust procurement records
- Experience developing procurement strategies, undertaking market engagement and assessing procurement risks
- Experience managing procurement pipelines, contract expiry programmes and forward procurement planning.
- Experience using Atamis or equivalent procurement and contract management systems.
- Experience developing, maintaining and reporting on procurement workplans, contract registers and procurement management information.
- Experience producing procurement reports, dashboards and performance metrics for senior stakeholders.
- Experience of stakeholder management and influencing across complex multiorganisational environments, including engagement with Executive and Director level stakeholders
- Experience identifying and delivering value-for-money, efficiency, service improvement and cost improvement initiatives.
- Experience working collaboratively with commissioning, contracting and finance functions to support service delivery objectives.
- Experience developing, implementing and maintaining category strategies aligned to organisational objectives, commissioning priorities and commercial opportunities.
- Experience maintaining strategic oversight of a procurement category, identifying opportunities to improve value for money and standardise services.
- Experience analysing expenditure, market intelligence and future demand to inform category planning.
- Experience developing annual category workplans and commercial roadmaps.
- Experience benchmarking services and commercial arrangements to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Maintain strategic oversight of the Community and Mental Health Services Category, identifying opportunities to standardise services, aggregate demand and improve value for money
- Experience analysing expenditure, market intelligence and future demand to inform category planning and procurement priorities.
- Experience building and maintaining strategic market relationships with NHS organisations, independent providers and other stakeholders
- Develop annual category workplans and commercial roadmaps to support proactive procurement planning across partner organisations.
- Benchmark services and commercial arrangements against NHS and wider public sector best practice to identify opportunities for service improvement and efficiencies.
Desirable
- Demonstrable understanding of current market developments, procurement trends and emerging commissioning models within Community and Mental Health Services.
- Experience supporting or responding to procurement challenges, representations or regulatory compliance matters
- Experience supporting NHS commissioning, contracting or service transformation programmes.
- Experience using Atamis reporting functionality and dashboard development.
Core comepetencies
Essential
- Strategic Procurement Leadership
- Strategic Category Management and Commercial Planning
- Commissioning Procurement and Contracting Integration
- Procurement Regulatory Compliance
- Commercial Acumen
- Market Intelligence and Market Development
- Contract Governance
- Data Analytics, Reporting and Systems Management
- Stakeholder Engagement, Influencing and Relationship Management
- Risk Management and Assurance
- Change Management and Continuous Improvement
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of NHS commissioning cycles and contract renewal processes
- Comprehensive knowledge of category management principles, strategic sourcing methodologies and commercial lifecycle management.
- Knowledge of spend analysis, demand management and opportunity assessment techniques.
- Knowledge of supplier relationship management principles and market engagement methodologies
- Knowledge of commercial negotiation strategies and value optimisation techniques.
- Understanding of contract lifecycle management and procurement pipeline planning
- Understanding of Atamis reporting functionality and procurement data management.
- Expert knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023, with the ability to interpret and apply the legislation to complex procurement and commercial scenarios, providing specialist advice to stakeholders.
- Expert knowledge of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, with the ability to interpret and apply the legislation to complex commissioning decisions and provide specialist advice to stakeholders.
- NHS commissioning and contracting landscape
- NHS Standard Contract and NHS Contract Terms & Conditions applicability
- Public sector governance and audit requirement
- Stakeholder relationships
- Atamis e-sourcing tool or equivalent e-procurement & contract management platform.
- Conflict of Interest requirements within the NHS
- Standard keyboard skills / Advanced keyboard skills used for manipulating large quantities of data and preparing complex analysis and reports.
Desirable
- Knowledge and awareness of NHS or wider healthcare sector operating models and policy developments would be advantageous, although not essential.
- Leading and Managing Others: Strong project leadership and management capabilities and experience, with capacity to manage multiple small and medium sized projects
- Change Management: Understands change management and process improvement with experience in supporting business process / organisational change
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline together with evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- MCIPS, Postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional qualification.
Category Management Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience developing and implementing category strategies, category plans and commercial strategies that deliver value for money and support organisational objectives.
Desirable
- Experience supporting NHS commissioning or healthcare service transformation programmes.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Category Manager with Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £66,274 - £73,496 per annum, inclusive of HCAS. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (until Sept 2027). The application deadline is 29 Jul 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 (15 Jul 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.
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