Category Manager

Job Title

Category Manager – Professional Services

Hybrid working with up to 4 days per week working from home.

Angel Court, London;
Staines;
Salford Quays, Manchester.

Permanent, Full time 37.5 hrs per week.

£56,000 – £69,900 per annum dependent on location and experience. Benefits include healthcare, generous pension and 10% management bonus scheme.

We make health happen. Working in our UK support functions you’ll play a key part in helping our customer facing colleagues deliver exceptional standards of customer service and patient care. No matter your role, you’ll have an opportunity to do work that matters. Making a difference to the lives of our customers each and every day.

As Category Manager, you will be part of the UK Procurement team to support their vision to lead the delivery of the market strategy, governance, and policies, by delivering significant value through market specific strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier relationship management.

• Be accountable for the specific category, with responsibility for total UK expenditure in the area to ensure products and services are sourced competitively and cost effectively to meet and enhance the business’s requirements.
• Identify and deliver multiple cost saving initiatives in order to achieve individual and Department targets.
• Lead on supplier selection/qualification and manage relationships with key suppliers using contemporary supplier relationship management techniques.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive category plan which has a clear savings/opportunity pipeline.
• Establish category priorities based on benefits and opportunities and business requirements.
• Understand the strategic intent of Bupa UK and other Market Units and the Business Units within it to ensure that Category plans and implementation are aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead contract negotiations on behalf of the organisation and develop negotiation plans.
• Act as the Procurement lead for Category Board identified projects, attending board meetings as required.
• Bring innovation to the team and the organisation and maximise total cost of ownership savings through continuous improvement initiatives.

• MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification (please specify on your application).
• At least 5 years procurement or Category management experience, with expertise in a related industry.
• Proven ability and experience of delivering savings through driving strategic category planning.
• Experience with full contract end-to-end life cycle.
• Experienced negotiator who is proficient at drawing upon and developing fact based negotiation plans and operating at a senior level.
• Industry and marketplace experience relevant to this role, including knowledge of relevant industry legislation.
• Contract and supplier relationship management expertise.
• Comprehensive experience working closely with stakeholders to ensure a successful commercial outcome.
• Proficient at drafting contracts and familiar with contract law.
• Excellent communication skills and able to present competently.

• 25 days holiday, increasing through length of service, with option to buy or sell.
• Bupa health insurance as a benefit in kind.
• An enhanced pension plan and life insurance.
• Onsite gyms or local discounts where no onsite gym available.
• Various other benefits and online discounts.

We’re a health insurer and provider. With no shareholders, our customers are our focus. Our people are all driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We make health happen by being brave, caring and responsible in everything we do.

We encourage all of our people to “Be you at Bupa”, we champion diversity, and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. That’s why we especially encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Bupa is a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This means we aim to offer an interview/assessment to every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the role. We’ll make sure you are treated fairly and offer reasonable adjustments as part of our recruitment process to anyone that needs them.

If you require information regarding this role in an alternative format, please email:

Finance & Accounting