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Main area Procurement Grade Band 8c Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Until 10/08/2027) Hours Full time – 37.5 hours per week Job ref 824-CORP-7976255
Site Ground Floor Town London Salary £88,250 – £100,355 per annum, inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 28/05/2026 23:59
Job overview
The Head of Category is a pivotal role responsible for leading the procurement of goods and services across Managed Services, ensuring value delivery and strategic alignment. This role includes line management of a Category Manager and oversight of the development, implementation and maintenance of the Category Strategy, Category Plan and Commercial Strategy. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, strategic insight and collaborative skills to drive outcomes that support the organisation’s objectives.
Main duties of the job
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the Category Strategy, collaborating closely with the Category Director and engaging with senior stakeholders across NHS and government bodies to understand their requirements.
- Work in partnership with Deliver and Enable colleagues to review and enhance the Category Strategy, ensuring alignment with NWL PS strategy and wider corporate objectives.
- Support the full commercial lifecycle, including the development of Category policies and strategies, while maintaining a deep understanding of NWL Member requirements.
- Analyse the supplier and market landscape to provide timely, practical and insightful guidance, advice and support to internal teams and stakeholders.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusivity and innovation within the team, supporting professional development and promoting diverse perspectives in decision‑making.
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
Education/Qualification
- A postgraduate business or finance degree (MBA, MBL, CA) or equivalent experience
- Specialist knowledge over more than one discipline / function acquired over a significant period.
- Evidence of CPD
- MCIPS
- Appropriate professional registration is desirable Programme and/or Project Management qualification or equivalent experience
Skills and Knowledge
- Experience of working within a role of developing and delivering long term category strategies
- Negotiation: A skilled negotiator with a broad range of skill sets
- Analysis: Skilled in being able to conduct analysis on complex data sets to provide concise insights
- Stakeholder Management: Strong stakeholder management skills, demonstrating ability to engage with stakeholders at multi levels
- Change Management: Understands change management and process improvement with experience in supporting business process / organisational change
- Strategy Delivery: Experience of delivering and implementing category and sourcing strategies, delivering strategies for various sub-categories
- Ability to process highly complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options
- Knowledge and awareness of NHS or wider healthcare sector operating models and policy developments would be advantageous, although not essential.
Experience
- Previous experience of operating within a Commercial function
- Significant Senior Management experience, leading procurement and supplier management teams at a strategic level
- Significant experience in a Category Management role
- Modern procurement techniques and approaches, including strategic. cost management principles and strategic category management process knowledge.
- Category management strategy initiation, planning and development process leadership Demonstrable experience of delivering total cost of ownership savings by Category Management
- Specific and demonstrable category experience as required for the role, including evidence of significant associated benefits realisation.
- Experience in being responsible for financial resources including budgeting for a major area, budget setting and monitoring.
- Experience in line management of staff; leading and Managing.
- Others: Strong project leadership and management capabilities and experience, with capacity to manage multiple small and medium sized projects
- Knowledge and experience of EU procurement processes, using Government procurement frameworks
Other
- Understanding of supplier management and can demonstrate development of a supplier over time.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the latest market and procurement trends within the category.
- Confident in the use of appropriate IT toolsets, including keyboard skills, use of IT equipment and systems.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and flexibility to work in an unpredictable pattern.
- Ability to handle distressing or emotional circumstances for example imparting unwelcomes news or where performance targets have not been met
CLCH Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
CLCH is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential for providing exceptional patient care. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining talent from all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident employer, we pledge to:
- Guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role.
- Provide reasonable adjustments to support diverse needs throughout the recruitment and employment process.
- Challenge misconceptions about disability and foster an inclusive culture for everyone.
We are committed to building a workplace where all staff feel valued and have the opportunity to thrive. Simply let us know how we can support you.
Learn more about our equal opportunities policy on our website: Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust clch.nhs.uk
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