Category Officer
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Flexible working
- Posted
- 18/09/2026
- Closes
- 24/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“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.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role supports the Category Manager within NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership's Procurement Services. The successful applicant will help maximise opportunities, rationalise contracts, and ensure value for money across Health Boards in Wales. Key responsibilities include identifying demand, awarding and managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with organisational standards and legislation. The role requires an understanding of basic purchasing principles, analytical skills, and strong IT knowledge, with hybrid working available.
Essential criteria
- Qualified to CIPS Level 4/NVQ 2/3 or equivalent experience
- 5 GCSEs at Grade C and above including Maths & English or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- 2 A Levels or equivalent
- Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual
- Proven ability to establish and enhance effective working relationships with stakeholders
- Previous work experience in a contracting function: e.g. able to construct specifications, appraise suppliers, invite tenders & evaluate bids, terms and conditions of contact.
- Experience of managing staff
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets
- General understanding of the Procure to Pay process.
- Awareness of Business planning principles
- Working knowledge of quality systems and procedures including problem solving techniques
- Previous experience of working in an office environment
- Knowledge of best practice, benchmarking and performance measurement techniques
- Skills and Attributes
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Dynamic approach to work
- Numerate
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Products
- Proven ability to prepare documentation utilising Microsoft products that are both structurally and grammatically correct and capable of final presentation
- Excellent organisational skills
- Proven communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow work through to completion
- Ability to work positively as part of a team
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh
- Other
- Ability to travel (public and/or private) off site for meetings (as appropriate) throughout Wales and other parts of the UK
- Deliver excellent customer service to our internal and external customers, helping us to maintain the customer service excellence standard
- Qualification and Knowledge
- Qualified to CIPS Level 4/NVQ 2/3 or equivalent experience
- 5 GCSEs at Grade C and above including Maths & English or equivalent experience
- 2 A Levels or equivalent
- Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual
- Proven ability to establish and enhance effective working relationships with stakeholders
- Previous work experience in a contracting function: e.g. able to construct specifications, appraise suppliers, invite tenders & evaluate bids, terms and conditions of contact.
- Experience of managing staff
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets
- General understanding of the Procure to Pay process.
- Awareness of Business planning principles
- Working knowledge of quality systems and procedures including problem solving techniques
- Previous experience of working in an office environment
- Knowledge of best practice, benchmarking and performance measurement techniques
- Skills and Attributes
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Dynamic approach to work
- Numerate
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Products
- Proven ability to prepare documentation utilising Microsoft products that are both structurally and grammatically correct and capable of final presentation
- Excellent organisational skills
- Proven communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow work through to completion
- Ability to work positively as part of a team
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh
- Other
- Ability to travel (public and/or private) off site for meetings (as appropriate) throughout Wales and other parts of the UK
- Deliver excellent customer service to our internal and external customers, helping us to maintain the customer service excellence standard
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £28,819 – £31,626 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 6d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Category Officer
The closing date is 24 September 2026
Job summary
NWSSP is responsible for the full Procure to Pay process for all Health Boards, Trusts, and Special Health Authorities in Wales.
If you're looking for a career in Procurement that keeps you motivated, offers potential for personal development and puts you in a position to make a positive difference to the NHS in Wales, then NWSSP Procurement Services has a career that will interest you.
The base would be IP5 in Newport, however hybrid working is a benefit of this role, the successful candidate will be office based 2/3 days per week.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will support the Category Manager to maximise opportunities, contract rationalisation, and ensure value for money. This will include the identification of demand through to the award and management of contracts, in line with the workplan ensuring compliance with organisational standards and relevant legislation. The ideal candidate will have office experience with an understanding of basic purchasing principles, keen analytical skills, and strong IT knowledge.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listen
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