Senior Category Manager

Job overview

In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to join the Procurement team at NUH and really make a difference. We are one of the largest teaching Trusts in England and have an ambitious forward thinking procurement and supply chain strategy.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Head of Procurement you will lead a team of Category Managers to successfully deliver the NUH work plan.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Category Manager you will support and lead on a number of improvement projects across the department to ensure we continually improve the service we offer.

The relationships that you build with stakeholders will be key to your success, which is why we are seeking someone with well-developed interpersonal skills that can quickly gain credibility.

You will be responsible for developing and leading a procurement work-plan, as well as managing a range of complex procurement projects. You will work closely with senior managers and stakeholders to develop, deliver and manage contracts for goods and services of high value and of a complex nature.

You will be MCIPS qualified (or similar appropriate professional institute or relevant experience) with a strong background in delivering commercial success, as well as being a great team player, strong communicator, experienced negotiator, innovative thinker and a patient and motivational leader.

You will be experienced in delivering complex FTS tenders and have a sound knowledge of EU/UK procurement legislation.

Previous NHS experience is not essential but a strong track record in delivering savings in a stakeholder driven organisation will be.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your procurement career in a dynamic, challenging and high profile environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for leading a specific strategic sourcing programme for defined categories, across the Trust and other NHS organisations as required.

Additionally, the post holder will be expected to take a wider customer service role and champion Procurement as Business Partners throughout the Trust.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Running complex above threshold procurements, managing multiple senior stakeholders and reporting and presenting as required in both written and verbal formats.
• Implementing a category management strategy, delivering effective procurements and supporting the management of key supplier relationships to deliver breakthrough performance in cost, service and quality.
• Leading large and often complex procurement activities, delivering savings and other optimal outcomes of a tactical (cost reduction) and strategic nature in a challenging healthcare environment. Accordingly you will be able to demonstrate change management and stakeholder management skills across decentralised business units.  Gaining competitive advantage for NUH by identifying best practice and leveraging the Trust spend within a category.
• Seeking out and engaging appropriate internal and external stakeholders at or up to Board level to provide the information and insight to support the development of the strategic options for the category.
• Where appropriate, working closely with a central support team to ensure the contracts you let deliver best value to NUH through effective supplier management.
• Leading the negotiation and completion of contracts often of a complex nature to support the category strategy.
• Promote procurement outside the procurement function and promoting change and development as required.Working under you own initiative and being responsible for making confident decisions for the benefit of the Trust.
• To be a member of the Procurement Senior Management Team delivering a coordinated work-plan in a timely manner across the Trust and ensuring that procurement best practices are fully represented and best value achieved at all levels; advising and supporting the Divisional Management Teams on service design and provision.
• To ensure contract compliance across the NUH, pursuing procurement excellence through implementation of efficient and effective procurement projects.
• To chair or be a member of groups and committees as required by the Deputy Head of Procurement or the needs of the post.
• To take ownership for unresolved problems/queries that are escalated and assure they are resolved in agreed timescales.
• Imparting skills and transferring knowledge to the category and buying teams in order to assist in skills development.
• To produce regular capacity and performance reports, verbal and written to the Deputy Head of Procurement.
• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.