Lead Category Manager

Lead Category Manager

The closing date is 11 January 2026

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Lead Category Manager to join our dynamic collaborative procurement organisation.

In this senior role, you will drive strategic sourcing, deliver high-value contracts and frameworks, and lead category initiatives that support quality patient care and operational efficiency across the organisation.

If you're passionate about driving excellence in NHS procurement and making a tangible impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading end-to-end category management across allocated portfolios
• Developing and delivering category strategies aligned to organisational priorities
• Managing complex procurements in accordance with PA23, PSR 24 and NHS best practice
• Building strong stakeholder relationships and providing expert procurement advice
• Delivering measurable savings, sustainability benefits, and improved service outcomes
• Supporting and mentoring procurement colleagues

About you: You will be an influential, solutions-focused procurement professional with strong commercial acumen, excellent communication skills, and proven experience managing high-value categories. MCIPS (or working towards) is required or a suitable equivalent.

NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS) is a collaborative procurement NHS organisation providing strategic procurement services to NHS organisations within Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and further afield. NHSCS has delivered savings in excess of £300 million working in partnership with trusts and with multiple stakeholders to deliver cash releasing savings, cost and quality improvements across a wide range of categories. NHSCS is hosted by SABP NHS Foundation Trust.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

We look forward to receiving your application!

My job makes better lives by

Supporting the category teams and customer Trusts by working with stakeholders and suppliers to build a reputation for procurement excellence within NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS). Leveraging new commercial opportunities and delivering procurement projects and frameworks. Maintaining relationships with existing clients and building new relationships by delivering a high-quality service, ensuring sourcing solutions are in place. Facilitating delivery of new contracts and monitoring contracts resulting in high-quality, value-for-money goods and services for customers.

Helping to secure cash and efficiency savings for NHS Trusts across the country to release resources and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This is a full-time role for an experienced Lead Category Manager who will lead a wide range of strategic sourcing, consultancy projects and category related initiatives for defined projects impacting all stages of the Procurement life cycle for NHS organisations.

You will take the lead on a portfolio of initiatives across a wide range of categories, contract compliance, sustainable cost improvements, and a range of other benefits associated with the commissioning of category services and products whilst maintaining NHS Commercial Solutions high standards.

You will work closely with all teams across the organisation to ensure cohesive strategies in the delivery of categories, products and services.

The Role Holder Will

Support the development and delivery of a strategic and operational procurement service

Work with stakeholders to ensure that service specifications, procurement evaluation criteria and assessment processes are fit for purpose and will result in the effective procurement of individual services

Support delivery against an annual procurement delivery plan in line with the organisations objectives to support Acute, Community and Mental Health Trusts for collaborative and independent projects

Manage a rolling workplan capturing and managing procurement intentions for a range of NHS organisations.

Drive change and innovation within NHSCS, to deliver commercial excellence across the region. This will be achieved by focusing on:

• improving stakeholder benefit and advantage through new…