Category Officer

NWSSP Legal & Risk Services; Baglan; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

NWSSP Procurement Services is recruiting two Procurement Category Officers within the Clinical Sourcing team (Pathology & POCT). The base location is Neath Port Talbot Hospital with hybrid working (office 2/3 days per week).

The successful candidate will support contract rationalisation, maximise value for money and manage contracts from demand identification to award, ensuring compliance with standards and legislation. Welsh language is desirable.

Qualifications

• Qualified to CIPS Level 4/NVQ 2/3 or equivalent experience.
• 5 GCSEs at Grade C and above including Maths & English or equivalent experience.
• 2 A Levels or equivalent.
• Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual.

Responsibilities

• Support the Category Manager to maximise opportunities, contract rationalisation, and ensure value for money.
• Identify demand through to the award and management of contracts, in line with the workplan.
• Ensure compliance with organisational standards and relevant legislation.
• Analyses and interprets complex data sets to support purchasing decisions.
• Office-based role with good IT skills and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Ability to work to deadlines

Numerate

Excellent organisational skills

Proven communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Welsh language skills desirable

Education

CIPS Level 4 / NVQ 2/3 or equivalent

5 GCSEs including Maths & English

2 A Levels or equivalent

IT systems standards e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

The salary scale for a Band 3 has been adjusted as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/2027 and will be implemented in August 2026 backdated to 01 April 2026 where applicable.

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 two Procurement Category Officers within the Clinical Sourcing team (Pathology & POCT Categories).

If you're looking for a career in Procurement that keeps you motivated, offers potential for personal development and puts you in a position to make a positive difference to the NHS in Wales, then NWSSP Procurement Services has a career that will interest you.

The base would be Neath Port Talbot Hospital, however hybrid working is a benefit of this role, the successful candidate will be office based 2/3 days per week.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will support the Category Manager to maximise opportunities, contract rationalisation, and ensure value for money. This will include the identification of demand through to the award and management of contracts, in line with the workplan ensuring compliance with organisational standards and relevant legislation. The ideal candidate will have office experience with an understanding of basic purchasing principles, keen analytical skills, and strong IT knowledge.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English 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

Person specification

Qualification and Knowledge

• Qualified to CIPS Level 4/NVQ 2/3 or equivalent experience
• 5 GCSEs at Grade C and above including Maths & English or equivalent experience
• 2 A Levels or equivalent
• Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual

Experience

• Proven ability to establish and enhance effective working relationships with stakeholders
• Previous work experience in a contracting function: e.g. able to construct specifications, appraise suppliers, invite tenders & evaluate bids, terms and conditions of contact.
• Experience of managing staff
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets
• General understanding of the Procure to Pay process.
• Awareness of Business planning principles
• Working knowledge of quality systems and procedures including problem solving techniques
• Previous experience of working in an office environment
• Knowledge of best practice, benchmarking and performance measurement techniques

Skills and Attributes

• Ability to work to deadlines
• Dynamic approach to work
• Numerate
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Products
• Proven ability to prepare documentation utilising Microsoft products that are both structurally and grammatically correct and capable of final presentation
• Excellent organisational skills
• Proven communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow work through to completion
• Ability to work positively as part of a team
• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh

Other

• Ability to travel (public and/or private) off site for meetings (as appropriate) throughout Wales and other parts of the UK
• Deliver excellent customer service to our internal and external customers, helping us to maintain the customer service excellence standard

We are committed to flexible working and equal opportunities.

If you are short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the email address with which you registered. Please ensure that you check your email account regularly.

Prior consideration for this vacancy will be given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.

When applying for this post it is essential that you read the Job Description and Person Specification (where available) and demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the person specification. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted.

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa , unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

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