About this role
Job summary
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.
About us
We are proud to be one of the largest community healthcare providers in the country, with more than 4,500 colleagues caring for over four million people across London and Hertfordshire. Every day, our teams bring their skill, compassion, and determination to the people who depend on us.
What inspires us is at the heart of who we are: when we work together, we can help people move forward in ways that truly matter. Our teams support children as they take their first steps in life, and they stand beside adults as they rebuild strength, confidence, and independence. From newborn health visiting to community nursing, stroke rehabilitation, and palliative care, we are there for people through some of life's most important moments.
Joining Central London Community Healthcare means becoming part of a community that lifts each other up. It means working in an organisation that values compassion, welcomes new ideas, and believes in the potential of every colleague. Your development matters here. Your wellbeing matters. Your voice helps shape the future of the care we provide.
We offer a competitive employment package because the work you do matters. At Central London Community Healthcare, you will join an inclusive organisation that invests in its people, supports development, and helps you thrive while delivering high-quality care.
Job description Job 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 Trusts values of Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment.
Person Specification
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.
Experience Essential
Significant experience leading complex healthcare procurement projects from business case through to contract award within an NHS or public sector environment. Demonstrable experience developing and implementing category strategies, category plans and commercial strategies that deliver value for money and support organisational objectives. Significant experience interpreting and applying the Procurement Act 2023 and/or the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (or equivalent public procurement legislation) to complex procurement activity.
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.
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.
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
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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Central London Community Health Trust
Address Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
15 Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5JD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://clch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)