Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Category Manager (Band 7)

The closing date is 16 February 2026

Job summary

The role of Category Manager encompasses the following:

1. Support the respective Senior Buyers and Buyers, ensuring projects are carried out effectively and responsibly and according to policies;

2. Responsible for managing and developing the PPS contracts work-plan with regard to the category spend allocated in order to drive the category workload and ensure effective contract coverage. Incorporate national and collaborative procurement priorities and contracts into the work-plan, ensuring use of the appropriate sourcing strategy.

3. To identify and deliver savings towards the Partner Trusts' QIPP/ CIP / CRES targets. To ensure savings are recorded regularly and accurately;

4. Work and liaise with all PPS staff to ensure an effective programme for category contract coverage as appropriate for benefit realisation for Partner Trusts;

5. Keep abreast with technology improvements and developments within the category. Develop team members category market knowledge

6. Support PPS staff to apply agreed process management and procedures;

7. Provide advice, expertise and support to stakeholders for category product selection, market testing and other related activities where appropriate;

Please refer to the JD for the rest of the information

Main duties of the job

The role of Category Manager encompasses the following:

1. Support the respective Senior Buyers and Buyers, ensuring projects are carried out effectively and responsibly and according to policies;

2. Responsible for managing and developing the PPS contracts work-plan with regard to the category spend allocated in order to drive the category workload and ensure effective contract coverage. Incorporate national and collaborative procurement priorities and contracts into the work-plan, ensuring use of the appropriate sourcing strategy.

3 To identify and deliver savings towards the Partner Trusts' QIPP/ CIP / CRES targets. To ensure savings are recorded regularly and accurately;

4. Work and liaise with all PPS staff to ensure an effective programme for category contract coverage as appropriate for benefit realisation for Partner Trusts;

5. Keep abreast with technology improvements and developments within the category. Develop team members category market knowledge

6. Support PPS staff to apply agreed process management and procedures;

7. Provide advice, expertise and support to stakeholders for category product selection, market testing and other related activities where appropriate;

Please refer to the JD for the rest of the information

About us

Partner Trusts have established the Partners Procurement Service (PPS) in order to improve their combined procurement effectiveness and deliver better value for money.

The participating Partner Trusts are:

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MEH)

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL)

The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust (WH)

The PPS is jointly and equally owned by all Partner Trusts and is hosted by WH. But staff may be employed on any of the PPS sites.

The rationale for the creation of the PPS is to establish a shared service able to improve the quality of a wide range of procurement services, deliver a more cost effective procurement and supply chain solution and enhance the non-pay benefits to each Trust.

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3414-B

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

London

NW2 3QG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The role of Category Manager encompasses the following:

1. Support the respective Senior Buyers and Buyers, ensuring projects are carried out effectively and responsibly and according to policies;

2. Responsible for managing and developing the PPS contracts work-plan with regard to the category spend allocated in order to drive the category workload and ensure effective contract coverage. Incorporate national and collaborative procurement priorities and contracts into the work-plan, ensuring use of the appropriate sourcing strategy.

3. To identify and deliver savings towards the Partner Trusts QIPP/ CIP / CRES targets. To ensure savings are recorded regularly and accurately;

4. Work and liaise with all PPS staff to ensure an effective programme for category contract coverage as appropriate for benefit realisation for Partner Trusts;

5. Keep abreast with technology improvements and developments within the category. Develop team members category market knowledge

6. Support PPS staff to apply agreed process management and procedures;

7. Provide advice, expertise and support to stakeholders for category product selection, market testing and other related activities where appropriate;

Please refer to the JD for the rest of the information

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role of Category Manager encompasses the following:

1. Support the respective Senior Buyers and Buyers, ensuring projects are carried out effectively and responsibly and according to policies;

2. Responsible for managing and developing the PPS contracts work-plan with regard to the category spend allocated in order to drive the category workload and ensure effective contract coverage. Incorporate national and collaborative procurement priorities and contracts into the work-plan, ensuring use of the appropriate sourcing strategy.

3. To identify and deliver savings towards the Partner Trusts QIPP/ CIP / CRES targets. To ensure savings are recorded regularly and accurately;

4. Work and liaise with all PPS staff to ensure an effective programme for category contract coverage as appropriate for benefit realisation for Partner Trusts;

5. Keep abreast with technology improvements and developments within the category. Develop team members category market knowledge

6. Support PPS staff to apply agreed process management and procedures;

7. Provide advice, expertise and support to stakeholders for category product selection, market testing and other related activities where appropriate;

Please refer to the JD for the rest of the information

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in working within a relevant Acute and or Community procurement environment, within the NHS with knowledge of Soft FM, Hard FM and IT category
  • Experience and knowledge of acute hospital sector buying and local buying procedures and use of IT system needs.
  • Knowledge and experience of EU rules within the NHS context.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • A comprehensive understanding of the Procurement Act 2023 and other relevant UK public procurement legislation.
  • CIPS Certified
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

Other requirements

Essential

  • Commitment to learning and self development
  • Strong identity with the core values of the public service and the NHS
  • Ability to deal with pressurised situations in terms of peak work-load periods
  • IT Literate with working knowledge of key MS packages

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Capable of undertaking analytical tasks and manipulation of spreadsheets
  • Good and effective interpersonal and communication skills to enable effective team working
  • Team player with the ability to contribute effectively at junior management level.
  • Capable of demonstrating negotiation skills
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in working within a relevant Acute and or Community procurement environment, within the NHS with knowledge of Soft FM, Hard FM and IT category
  • Experience and knowledge of acute hospital sector buying and local buying procedures and use of IT system needs.
  • Knowledge and experience of EU rules within the NHS context.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • A comprehensive understanding of the Procurement Act 2023 and other relevant UK public procurement legislation.
  • CIPS Certified
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.

Other requirements

Essential

  • Commitment to learning and self development
  • Strong identity with the core values of the public service and the NHS
  • Ability to deal with pressurised situations in terms of peak work-load periods
  • IT Literate with working knowledge of key MS packages

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Capable of undertaking analytical tasks and manipulation of spreadsheets
  • Good and effective interpersonal and communication skills to enable effective team working
  • Team player with the ability to contribute effectively at junior management level.
  • Capable of demonstrating negotiation skills

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

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

London

NW2 3QG


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

London

NW2 3QG


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Director of PPS

Sandy Mehta

sandy.mehta@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3414-B

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

London

NW2 3QG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)