University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Category Buyer

The closing date is 23 March 2026

Job summary

Exciting opportunity to work as a Category Buyer-Surgical for the Devon Procurement Service (DPS). DPS is a collaborative procurement service providing procurement support to NHS partner organisations:

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Torbay & South Devon NHS Trust

Devon Partnership Trust

Livewell Southwest

The job role is very varied, offering daily challenge with the opportunity to grow and develop as a procurement professional in a well-respected and high performing team.

The main responsibility includes the management of procurement activity associated with designated categories of spend across multiple hospital and NHS sites. This often delivers added value and innovation in healthcare technology with clear benefits to the patients of the Devon healthcare community.

The successful candidate will be supported and trained to support the delivery and management of the Procurement Category Management (CM) non pay savings programme.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job

Work within the Medical and Surgical Procurement Team to support the delivery of the procurement Category Management (CM) non pay savings programme that informs the wider Procurement and Logistics strategy.

Ensure all Procurement is conducted in line with the procurement CM model.

Responsible for sourcing of goods and services to ensure value for money, meeting the needs of stakeholders and comply with corporate governance and UK legislation.

To provide procurement and commercial advice to internal customers and the wider Devon healthcare network.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining the Devon Procurement Service, hosted by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Network has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.

We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

09 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year £31,049 - £37,796 Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AM-CO7838532

Job locations

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust on behalf of Devon Procurement Service

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road, Derriford (Devon host location flexible)

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. Communication

a) Maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure performance and value, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to align category strategies with organisational goals.

b) Establish and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including collaborative partners, NHS Supply Chain, suppliers, and other NHS Trusts.

c) Present, explain, and defend commercial information in support of sourcing decisions.

d) Use communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to engage a range of staff to ensure the agreement is reached to minimise the level of procurement activity not subject to a full tender.

e) Build and maintain the reputation of the procurement service as a professional service with effective business partnering.

f) Demonstrate transparency to the procurement service, its Partner Trusts, and supplier organisations to maximise reputation and mitigate risks.

  1. Knowledge, Training and Experience

Qualifications

a) Knowledge of professional purchasing principles acquired through degree or Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) e.g. CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or equivalent training and experience.

Training

b) Evidence of NHS and/or wider public-sector procurement training programmes.

c) Evidence of professional development through workshops, seminars, and courses related to category management.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. Communication

a) Maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure performance and value, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to align category strategies with organisational goals.

b) Establish and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including collaborative partners, NHS Supply Chain, suppliers, and other NHS Trusts.

c) Present, explain, and defend commercial information in support of sourcing decisions.

d) Use communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to engage a range of staff to ensure the agreement is reached to minimise the level of procurement activity not subject to a full tender.

e) Build and maintain the reputation of the procurement service as a professional service with effective business partnering.

f) Demonstrate transparency to the procurement service, its Partner Trusts, and supplier organisations to maximise reputation and mitigate risks.

  1. Knowledge, Training and Experience

Qualifications

a) Knowledge of professional purchasing principles acquired through degree or Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) e.g. CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or equivalent training and experience.

Training

b) Evidence of NHS and/or wider public-sector procurement training programmes.

c) Evidence of professional development through workshops, seminars, and courses related to category management.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of professional purchasing principles acquired through degree or Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) e.g. CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or equivalent training and demonstrable experience.

Desirable

  • Proven evidence of CPD

Aptitiude & Abilities

Essential

  • A skilled negotiator with a broad range of skill sets
  • Skilled in being able to conduct analysis on complex data sets to provide concise insights
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, demonstrating ability to positively engage with stakeholders at multi levels

Desirable

  • Strong project leadership and management capabilities and demonstrable experience, with capacity to manage multiple small and medium sized projects

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working within a purchasing and supply environment, including the ability to produce tenders, requests for quotations, tender evaluations, and drafting contracts
  • Good level of demonstrable experience of stakeholder management in a customer and results focused environment
  • Demonstrable experience in negotiation and implementation of purchasing agreements
  • Spend analysis and manipulation of various sources of procurement systems data

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of working in a large clinical setting and an understanding of current issues
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Proven knowledge of professional purchasing principles acquired through degree or Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) e.g. CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or equivalent training and demonstrable experience.

Desirable

  • Proven evidence of CPD

Aptitiude & Abilities

Essential

  • A skilled negotiator with a broad range of skill sets
  • Skilled in being able to conduct analysis on complex data sets to provide concise insights
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, demonstrating ability to positively engage with stakeholders at multi levels

Desirable

  • Strong project leadership and management capabilities and demonstrable experience, with capacity to manage multiple small and medium sized projects

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working within a purchasing and supply environment, including the ability to produce tenders, requests for quotations, tender evaluations, and drafting contracts
  • Good level of demonstrable experience of stakeholder management in a customer and results focused environment
  • Demonstrable experience in negotiation and implementation of purchasing agreements
  • Spend analysis and manipulation of various sources of procurement systems data

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of working in a large clinical setting and an understanding of current issues

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust on behalf of Devon Procurement Service

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road, Derriford (Devon host location flexible)

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust on behalf of Devon Procurement Service

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road, Derriford (Devon host location flexible)

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Category Manager - Medical and Surgical

Donna Ellis

d.ellis4@nhs.net

01752439621

Details

Date posted

09 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year £31,049 - £37,796 Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AM-CO7838532

Job locations

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust on behalf of Devon Procurement Service

Ground Floor, Brittany House, 1 Brest Road, Derriford (Devon host location flexible)

Plymouth

PL6 5YE


Supporting documents

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