Category Manager

Supply Chain Coordination Limited; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare supply chain organization in Sheffield is seeking a Category Manager to lead critical healthcare categories. The role involves developing category plans, building stakeholder relationships, and implementing improvements in supply chain processes. The ideal candidate should have strong leadership skills and a background in healthcare procurement. This position offers hybrid working, generous benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Annual bonus scheme

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Flexible Benefits Scheme

Paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Proven track record in managing critical categories.
• Strong understanding of healthcare procurement.
• Experience working with stakeholders in public health.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a category plan aligning with commercial strategy.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with public sector bodies.
• Provide subject matter expertise to support decision-making.

Skills

Category leadership

Cross-functional relationship building

Agile thinking

Communication

Education

Experience in supply chain management

Relevant degree or certification

Job description

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Job Posted: 29 January 2025
Job Updated: 23 July 2025

Apply Now

Category Manager

Job Posted: 29 January 2025
Job Updated: 23 July 2025

Apply Now

Job Title: Category Manager

Function:Commercial

Location: Sheffield / Leeds – Hybrid working 2 days a week

Contract type: Permanent

Salary:£45,478 per annum with the opportunity to increase to £53,504 per annum by year 3.

Closing Date: 18th August 2025

We have a great opportunity for a Category Manager within the Medical and Surgical PPE team, who will make a significant impact in a high-profile area of national public health importance

Our Category Manager roles are key category leadership roles with responsibility for transforming and leading nationally critical categories. You will, in collaboration with Category Lead colleagues, set the vision, direction and culture for the teams, supporting provision and growth whilst introducing best practice tools and processes for world class category management.

These roles will be a pivotal part in our future strategic delivery and will require agile thinking, a creative approach, and the ability to work under pressure and at pace to deliver our priorities within a changing demographic and enable excellent patient care.

The Category Manager will develop and implement a specific category to improve the supply chain, reduce risk, create competitive advantage and deliver savings. Through a focus on product range and how products are brought to market, and in close collaboration with key stakeholders, create product groups that maximise value both for NHS customers and NHS Supply Chain.

The Category Managers will have responsibility for building and navigating complex cross functional relationships with the wider organisation and externally with stakeholders, working closely with key stakeholders including the UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. This pivotal role will aim of identifying and implementing improvements in our ways of working that will create efficiencies for the organisation as well as improved value and service for our NHS customers.

Every day you will …

Develop and manage a category plan/program in line with the organisations’ commercial strategyensuring realisation of synergies, like cost savings and risk-reduction, and optimisation of the category delivery,while reporting to senior colleagues.

Explore and develop a strong understanding of external developments or emerging issues and evaluate theirpotential impact on, or usefulness to, the organisation.

Build and maintain effective relationships with senior representatives from other public sector bodies, such as UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, and other partners to ensure alignment on category priorities and objectives.

Provide subject matter expertise and contribute to compelling business cases to stakeholders and decision-makers, ensuring robust cases for commercial approach.

Resolve queries from internal or external customers or suppliers by providing information on complex processes and the related policies, referring to others where necessary for interpretation of policy.

Set clear objectives for each category; use standard materials to make a presentation to the customer; and ask relevant questions to evaluate the customer’s level of interest and to identify and respond to areas requiring further information or explanation.

Conduct research using primary data sources and select information needed for the analysis of key themes and trends.

Support senior leaders to build and optimise important relationships and interactions with external and internal stakeholders, including keydecision makers, regulators, public organisations, governmental institutions, suppliers, NHS providers,professional communities, and customer and patient groups. Work with guidance from senior colleagues.

Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation where relevant to improve performance and fulfil personal potential. Maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.

What can we offer you?

We want to reward you for your passion, enthusiasm, and hard work so we offer much more than a competitive salary:

Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.

We recognise our employees’ hard work and contributions with annual bonus schemes, long service, and VIP colleagues awards.

27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.

We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.

A focus on your well-being offering 1 day of paid well-being leave and free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Generous pension scheme (with us contributing 12% when you contribute 6%)

Access to our Flexible Benefits Scheme, where you can choose from a variety of benefits such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, and additional pension contributions that suit you.

2 days of paid volunteering leave allowing you to give back to your community.

Access to many discounts from the Blue Light Card to NHS Discounts.