Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Impress employers and recruiters.
Choose from hundreds of resume examples.

Target Resume Now

About the Role

This role is a critical leadership position within the Medical and Surgical team, focused on transforming and managing nationally significant product categories. The Category Manager will shape the team's vision and direction, driving growth, embedding best practices, and delivering world-class category management to support the NHS in providing outstanding patient care.

Responsibilities

• Manage a category plan/program in line with the organisation's commercial strategy, ensuring realization of synergies, cost savings, risk-reduction, and optimisation of category delivery.
• Explore and develop a strong understanding of external developments and evaluate their potential impact on the organisation.
• Resolve queries from internal or external customers or suppliers by providing information on complex processes and related policies.
• Set clear objectives for each category and make presentations to customers.
• Conduct research using primary data sources to analyze key themes and trends.
• Work collaboratively across key functions including Inventory Management, Customer Engagement, Resilience, Supplier Relationship Management, and Sustainability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, suppliers, NHS organisations, and regulatory bodies.
• Support the delivery of nationally coordinated supply strategies aligned with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) priorities.
• Lead category resilience and continuity planning, identifying potential risks within global supply chains and working proactively to mitigate disruption.
• Continuously improve category processes, identifying efficiencies and enhancing ways of working.

Requirements

• Proven experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain within a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to develop and deliver category strategies that drive value, savings, and performance.
• Analytical mindset, with experience using data to identify trends, inform decisions, and shape strategy.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence at all levels.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, able to clearly articulate complex information and engage diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
• Collaborative approach, working effectively across multiple functions to deliver aligned outcomes.
• Proactive and solution-focused, with the confidence to challenge, innovate, and drive continuous improvement.
• Understanding of supply chain resilience, risk management, and supplier engagement.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying informed on industry best practice, technology, and regulatory changes.

Skills

• Category management
• Procurement
• Supply chain management
• Commercial acumen
• Data analysis
• Stakeholder management
• Communication
• Presentation skills
• Project management
• Risk management
• Supplier relationship management
• Supply chain resilience

Location

• Hybrid - Nottingham
• Hybrid - Alfreton
• Hybrid - Wakefield
• Hybrid - Daresbury
• Hybrid - London
• Hybrid - Sheffield

Work Type

• Hybrid
• 12 months secondment / Fixed Term Contract

Experience Level

• Proven experience in category management, procurement or supply chain within a complex, fast-paced environment.

Salary/Compensations

• £47,874 with the potential to rise to £56,322 over 3 years

Benefits

• Annual bonus schemes
• Long service awards
• Colleague recognition awards
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• In-house training
• Support for external qualifications
• 1 day of paid well-being leave
• Free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous pension scheme (12% employer contribution when employee contributes 6%)
• Access to Flexible Benefits Scheme (Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, additional pension contributions)
• 2 days of paid volunteering leave
• Access to discounts from Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts

About the Company

• NHS Supply Chain's role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health by sourcing, delivering, and supplying healthcare products, services, and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.
• They serve every NHS Trust, operate a national network of distribution centres, manage relationships with over a thousand suppliers, and deliver over 8,000,000 orders annually to more than 17,000 locations.
• SCCL is a company registered in England and Wales (company number 10881715) that acts as the management function of the NHS Supply Chain.

Equal Opportunity

• At NHS Supply Chain, we are committed to building an inclusive environment where difference is not only valued, but celebrated, giving everyone the opportunity to thrive in their career.
• Developing our people is key to our success, so if this role sounds like the right next step in your career but your experience doesn’t match perfectly with the job advert, we encourage you to still apply.