Senior Category Lead (Health Procurement Liverpool)
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 11/09/2026
- Closes
- 25/09/2026
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
The Senior Category Lead will manage strategic procurement activities for Health Procurement Liverpool, supporting the Procurement and Contract Manager and Head of Procurement. This role involves leading and delivering complex projects to achieve value for money and innovation. The post holder will also manage a team of procurement professionals and provide expert advice on procurement regulations. They will engage with internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and effective market testing.
Essential criteria
- Qualified or part qualified MCIPS (Level 4/Diploma upwards), actively working towards or equivalent experience
- A good standard of general education incl. GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- MCIPS qualified
- Relevant Business Degree
- Project Management qualification
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Knowledge & Experience
- Relevant experience in an NHS public sector procurement environment with a track record of achievement
- Fully conversant with the application of EU/UK procurement legislation/tendering processes & procedures
- Experience of category management, stakeholder & supplier managemen
- Project management experience
- Delivery of demanding savings targets through Procurement activities
- Line management experience
- Experienced in using a range of computer packages /applications
- Experienced in the use of EProcurement systems
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Public sector Procurement experience
- Experience of managing a strategic procurement team within an NHS setting
- Skills & Attributes
- Sound Data Analysis skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met
- Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
- Understanding of current best practice in all aspects of supply chain management
- Proven influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent Leadership skills
- Understanding of the current / future NHS agenda in Procurement
- Ability to build meaningful business relationship both internally across the organisation and externally with suppliers
- Qualified or part qualified MCIPS (Level 4/Diploma upwards), actively working towards or equivalent experience
- A good standard of general education incl. GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
- MCIPS qualified
- Relevant Business Degree
- Project Management qualification
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Knowledge & Experience
- Relevant experience in an NHS public sector procurement environment with a track record of achievement
- Fully conversant with the application of EU/UK procurement legislation/tendering processes & procedures
- Experience of category management, stakeholder & supplier managemen
- Project management experience
- Delivery of demanding savings targets through Procurement activities
- Line management experience
- Experienced in using a range of computer packages /applications
- Experienced in the use of EProcurement systems
- Evidence of on-going professional development
- Public sector Procurement experience
- Experience of managing a strategic procurement team within an NHS setting
- Skills & Attributes
- Sound Data Analysis skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met
- Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
- Understanding of current best practice in all aspects of supply chain management
- Proven influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent Leadership skills
- Understanding of the current / future NHS agenda in Procurement
- Ability to build meaningful business relationship both internally across the organisation and externally with suppliers
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Category Lead (Health Procurement Liverpool)
The closing date is 25 September 2026
Job summary
The Senior Category Lead will be responsible for strategic procurement activities across Health Procurement Liverpool (HPL) whilst supporting the Procurement and Contract Manager and Head of Procurement in the delivery of the HPL Procurement Strategy and national procurement agendas.
The post holder will be required to support and manage a team of Procurement professionals in the identification and delivery of Procurement schemes as well as individually leading and delivering a number of high profile complex projects, which will demonstrate and deliver value for money and innovation whilst meeting the needs of all organisation(s).
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be required to provide sound Procurement advice in-line with Trust(s) standing financial instructions and Procurement Regulations to both internal Procurement team members and staff across the HPL organisations whilst engaging, building and maintaining strategic working relationships with both internal/external colleagues and suppliers. As a strong influencer and an experienced negotiator the post holder will proactively challenge current practices and strive to deliver continuous improvement, offering better patient experiences and outcomes through
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