Job summary
- Main area
- Procurement Services
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 043-AC118-0725
- Employer
- NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- IP5
- Town
- Newport
- Salary
- £46,840 - £53,602 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Senior Category Manager
Band 7
If you are looking to join NWSSP, please see the additional information below that may be of interest to you: -
Our “Benefits” video has been created to highlight and showcase some of the benefits of working for the NHS and NWSSP:- https://youtu.be/zX3x046SDhg
The “Tops Tips – Be Yourself” video has been designed to support candidates applying for roles with NWSSP. We have outlined 8 key steps to help candidates articulate their capabilities and experience when completing applications with NWSSP. https://youtu.be/qe3ibY8b6m4
Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh. Any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English
Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.
This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed
Job overview
NWSSP is responsible for the full Procure to pay process for all Health Boards, Trusts, and Special Health Authorities in Wales. A vacancy has arisen for a Senior Category Manager within the Medicines Sourcing team.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop your procurement career in a dynamic, challenging, and high-profile environment. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the application of commercial skills, negotiation; relationship management of internal and external stakeholders
To be successful in this post, the candidate will be of a continuous improvement mindset; need to be flexible and responsive to changes in priorities; be of a resilient personality; demonstrable track record in delivering creative and innovative service improvement solutions; manage heavy workload at pace; ensure policies and procedures are adhered to ensuring strategic and operational targets are delivered.
Although preferred, it is not essential to have experience of this category, as this learning can be provided as part of 'on the job' training and procurement/commercial skills are transferable.
The organisation recognises the challenges of recruiting high calibre candidates and has a number of bases across Wales. Whilst the preferred base would be Newport, hybrid working is a benefit of this role, ideally the successful candidate will be office based/home based 2/3 days per week and discussions may be held in this regard with the successful candidate.
Main duties of the job
Supporting the teams understanding of the strategic direction of all NHS Wales organisations and the alignment with the NWSSP strategic objectives as part of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan (IMTP).
Supporting the leadership of the Deputy Head of National Sourcing in the delivery a National Sourcing category strategy for Pharmacy.
Work with the team to develop and deliver a comprehensive and maintained sourcing plan, focussed on delivering prioritised customer needs and cash releasing savings from non-pay budgets.
Apply commercial acumen and utilise skills to deliver in a complex changing environment throughout NHS Wales.
Apply innovative and strategic thinking to continuous service improvement initiatives and be prepared to challenge historical practice when appropriate, ensuring best practice is adopted which improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pharmacy National Sourcing Team.
Ensure the operational management and performance monitoring of the whole Procurement team in line with departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).Support the Deputy Head in responding to FOI and Audit and Assurance queries.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.
Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people.
Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.
Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone. To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit https://nwssp.nhs.wales/working-for-us/
NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- MCIPS
- Demonstrable Project Management knowledge & experience
- Specialist knowledge of contract law / EU legislation to support public procurement.
Desirable criteria
- Sound knowledge of strategic and operational procurement management
- Knowledge of best practice/ benchmarking and performance measurement techniques.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of project planning and ability to meet deadlines, including participating, and co-ordinating costings and purchases in line with agreed revenue and capital projects
- Experience of people/staff management.
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of category management.
- Awareness of business planning principles
- Experience of managing large scale and / or complex projects.
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Strong influencing with significant experience /negotiating skills, a good builder of productive relationships.
- Ability to communicate complex information effectively to multidisciplinary groups of staff at all levels.
- Ability to engage, motivate and influence individuals outside the formal area of management responsibility
Desirable criteria
- Familiar with integrated web-based systems
Values/ Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Self-motivated
- Good organiser of time and activities, able to identify key issues and priorities, and work to stretch targets.
- Enthusiastic, passionate, and committed to making a positive difference to the organisation. Ability to function both as a team player and self-motivator.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of continuous personal development.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Proven experience of handling ‘complex’ and/or high value procurements on time, and within budget.
- Ability to engage, motivate and influence individuals outside the formal area of management responsibility
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of EFQM/Quality standards and working with ISO policies and procedures.
Applicant requirements
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tracey Prothero
- Job title
- Deputy Head of National Sourcing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
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