Category Manager Fixed Term Contract

Absolute Recruit; Aston End; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Absolute Recruit Ltd is partnering with a leading healthcare organisation to recruit a Category Manager for its Business Services portfolio. You will own a diverse range of corporate and operational spend across multiple sites, shaping category strategies and driving savings while protecting service quality.

You will lead end-to-end sourcing projects, negotiate terms with suppliers and coordinate with Finance, Legal, IT and Clinical teams to deliver measurable improvements in a complex

Qualifications

• Experience leading tenders, sourcing projects and commercial negotiations.
• Ability to develop category strategies and deliver measurable savings or value.
• Strong supplier relationship and contract management skills.
• Ability to analyse spend data and translate findings into recommendations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering category strategies across Business Services.
• Leading end-to-end sourcing projects from requirements to tendering, negotiation and implementation.
• Identifying opportunities for savings, supplier consolidation, standardisation and service improvement.
• Negotiating terms and managing contracts, renewals and supplier performance.
• Building relationships across Finance, Legal, IT, Information Governance, Clinical and Operational teams.
• Managing supplier and commercial risks including cost pressures, compliance and business continuity.
• Maintaining reporting on sourcing activity, savings, risks and contractual commitments.

Skills

Sourcing leadership

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Spend analysis

Supplier relationships

Contract management

Excel

Education

MCIPS qualification or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

An excellent chance to join a well-established business in an exciting period of change.

Category Manager – Business Services
£60,000 per annum | 12-month fixed-term contract
Sponsorship is not available for this role

Absolute Recruit is partnering with a leading healthcare organisation to recruit a Category Manager for its Business Services portfolio.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a varied range of corporate and operational spend, influence commercial decisions and deliver measurable improvements across a complex, multi-site organisation.

You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to shape category strategies, lead sourcing projects and strengthen supplier relationships. Alongside delivering savings, you'll ensure procurement decisions protect service quality and support the teams delivering care.

The role
Reporting into the procurement function, your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering category strategies across Business Services.
• Leading end-to-end sourcing projects, from gathering requirements and analysing the market through to tendering, negotiation and implementation.
• Identifying opportunities for savings, supplier consolidation, standardisation and service improvement.
• Negotiating commercial terms and managing contracts, renewals and supplier performance.
• Building strong relationships across Finance, Legal, IT, Information Governance, Clinical and Operational teams.
• Managing supplier and commercial risks, including cost pressures, compliance and business continuity.
• Maintaining clear reporting on sourcing activity, savings, risks and contractual commitments.

About you
You'll bring procurement or category management experience, strong commercial judgement and the confidence to influence stakeholders across a complex organisation.
We're looking for:

• A track record of leading tenders, sourcing projects and commercial negotiations.
• Experience developing category strategies and delivering demonstrable savings or wider value.
• Strong supplier relationship and contract management skills.
• The ability to analyse spend data and turn findings into practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement experience is desirable.

What's on offer

• 33 days' annual leave including bank holidays, plus your birthday off.
• Option to purchase additional annual leave during the annual selection window.
• Pension contribution and life assurance.
• Training and professional development.
• Wellbeing support, a 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion.