Category Manager

Job summary

Are you an ambitious procurement professional looking to make a real difference in one of the UK's largest public sector organisations? We are seeking a highly motivated Category Manager to join our Procurement Team and play a key role in delivering commercial excellence, value for money, and sustainable procurement solutions that directly support frontline healthcare services. Based at the main Wakefield hospital site of Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust but employed through Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is a new role supporting the increased collaboration of the two Trusts in how we shape and deliver an excellent procurement service This is an exciting opportunity to manage a diverse portfolio of contracts, lead procurement projects, and influence strategic sourcing decisions that contribute to improved patient outcomes and significant financial efficiencies across the Trust. The post supports delivery of cost improvement programmes, helping to deliver efficiencies of more than £2m per annum while ensuring continuity of supply, regulatory compliance, and outstanding stakeholder engagement.

Main duties of the job

As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of clinical and non-clinical contracts, leading procurement exercises from market engagement through to contract award and supplier performance management. You will work closely with clinicians, operational teams, finance colleagues, and suppliers to develop innovative commercial solutions that support the Trust's strategic objectives. The key responsibilities of the role are:- Managing a portfolio of goods, services, and contract categories, ensuring value for money and compliance with procurement regulations. Developing tender documentation, specifications, evaluation models, and contract agreements using modern e-tendering systems. Working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify requirements, standardise products and services, and deliver commercial benefits. Negotiating with suppliers to secure best value, improve service quality, and strengthen strategic supplier relationships. Identifying and managing commercial, contractual, and supply chain risks. Supporting sustainability, environmental, and social value objectives through procurement activity. Providing expert procurement advice to stakeholders across the organisation. Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and leading the development of efficient procurement practices. This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional who enjoys balancing commercial delivery with stakeholder engagement an

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Details

• Date posted: 21 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001574
• Job locations: Cross Site, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Name Phil Tomlinson Position Contracts Manager Email philip.adamson@nhs.net Shortlisting Date: 30/07/2026 Interview Date: 10/08/2026

Job Summary

Shape the future of NHS procurement. Deliver value. Improve patient care.

Are you an ambitious procurement professional looking to make a real difference in one of the UK's largest public sector organisations? We are seeking a highly motivated Category Manager to join our Procurement Team and play a key role in delivering commercial excellence, value for money, and sustainable procurement solutions that directly support frontline healthcare services. Based at the main Wakefield hospital site of Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust but employed through Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is a new role supporting the increased collaboration of the two Trusts in how we shape and deliver an excellent procurement service

This is an exciting opportunity to manage a diverse portfolio of contracts, lead procurement projects, and influence strategic sourcing decisions that contribute to improved patient outcomes and significant financial efficiencies across the Trust. The post supports delivery of cost improvement programmes, helping to deliver efficiencies of more than £2m per annum while ensuring continuity of supply, regulatory compliance, and outstanding stakeholder engagement. .

Why you should join our Team

Mid Yorkshire Procurement is well established team providing procurement support across the Trust. Supporting an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). The team and Trust prioritise people and values to deliver the best possible care to patients. The team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

Supporting work-life balance and fostering a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs, our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

What you will bring to the role

As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of clinical and non-clinical contracts, leading procurement exercises from market engagement through to contract award and supplier performance management. You will work closely with clinicians, operational teams, finance colleagues, and suppliers to develop innovative commercial solutions that support the Trust's strategic objectives. The key responsibilities of the role are:-

• Managing a portfolio of goods, services, and contract categories, ensuring value for money and compliance with procurement regulations.
• Developing tender documentation, specifications, evaluation models, and contract agreements using modern e-tendering systems.
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify requirements, standardise products and services, and deliver commercial benefits.
• Negotiating with suppliers to secure best value, improve service quality, and strengthen strategic supplier relationships.
• Identifying and managing commercial, contractual, and supply chain risks.
• Supporting sustainability, environmental, and social value objectives through procurement activity.
• Providing expert procurement advice to stakeholders across the organisation.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and leading the development of efficient procurement practices.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional who enjoys balancing commercial delivery with stakeholder engagement and wants to contribute to improving healthcare services across the NHS.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our Trust values

The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.

We are….

Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind

Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time

Our priorities:

People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.