Principal Category Manager - NHSSBS

Are you a seasoned public procurement professional with expertise in business services? We’ve got the job for you!

We are seeking a Principal Category Manager to join our Business Services Category, leading a small team and taking ownership of a number of Business Services frameworks. You’ll thrive in a dynamic environment, developing strategic sourcing strategies across our framework portfolio.

There are 2 positions available with the current portfolio including Interpretation and Translations Services, Legal Services, and Transport Services – however, the right candidate will be able to flex across the whole category as needed and also bring their own ideas to increase the portfolio.

We can offer phenomenal career progression opportunities, the ability to be based anywhere across the UK, benefits which you can flex to meet your needs, and training and development opportunities.

You will be primarily home-based, but there is an expectation to attend meetings at our Salford office once or twice per month.

What you’ll be doing:

• Working closely within the Business Services Category to ensure effective management and delivery of portfolio framework agreements.
• Reviewing and negotiating draft contracts for the category area.
• Leading and developing a small team of Category Managers and/or Buyers.
• Pursuing procurement excellence through the implementation of efficient and effective procurement projects within key markets.
• Analysing data and identifying areas of cost savings and operational improvements to advise procurement plans.
• Supporting the Senior Category Manager with the management of key areas of improvement such as review of purchasing procedures, benchmarking, and day-to-day customer and supplier interactions.

What you’ll bring:

• Working knowledge within business/professional services (or sub-categories) and awareness of their supply chains.
• Experience of working within a UK public sector procurement setting and knowledge of UK Public Contract Regulations and the New Procurement Act 2023.
• Qualified at CIPS Level 4 or above.
• Strong experience in supplier relationship management and stakeholder collaboration.
• Experience in project management within a procurement setting, with the ability to interpret and analyse complex data.
• Advanced user of strategic sourcing tools (e.g., Ariba, Jaggaer, Bravo, Atamis, Coupa, SAP Ariba).
• Team leadership and management experience.

If you’re interested in this role but unsure if your skills and experience match exactly, we encourage you to apply—we’d love to hear from you!

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Nationwide – (with a requirement to attend the Salford office once/twice monthly)
Security Clearance Level: DBS
Internal Recruiter: Rachel
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
Benefits: £5,400 car allowance, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days, health cash plan, private medical, life assurance, pension, and generous flexible benefits fund

Although this role is advertised as full-time, we support many ways of working and can offer a range of flexible working arrangements. So, if you’re interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible.

Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us?

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created by the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, we make life easier for NHS employees, patients, and suppliers, and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. Proud members of the NHS family, we provide finance & accounting, digital, procurement and workforce services to more than half the NHS in England, and our solutions are underpinned by cutting-edge technologies and our teams’ expertise, in-depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence.

We share common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, are committed to being a force for good, and are dedicated and empowered to act responsibly and sustainably at organisational, team, and individual level.

Join us on our journey.