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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

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership logo

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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Customer Service ExcellenceHyderus o ran anabledd - ymroddedigDisability confident committedMenopause Workplace PledgeEnei MemberLexcel Legal Practice Quality MarkRhwydwaith Network 75 logoEmployer pledge demonstrating a commitment to change how we think and act about mental healthEmployer pledge demonstrating a commitment to change how we think and act about mental healthCore principlesPrentisiaethau ApprenticeshipsArmed Forces Bronze Award NWSSP

Applicant requirements

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

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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