Category Specialist - Oncology

PassFort; Burton upon Trent; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Private medical (after qualifying)

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Sciensus is seeking a Category Specialist – Oncology to join the procurement team. This hybrid role will be based in Burton, with at least 2 days in the Burton office. You’ll link pharmaceutical suppliers, clinical teams and the wider supply chain to manage oncology categories essential for patient care.

You’ll forecast demand, manage supplier relationships, and ensure governance across NHS and pharma-funded homecare contracts. Strong GDP knowledge and CIPS level 4 are required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare procurement.
• Experience forecasting, purchasing, inventory management and issue resolution.
• Commercial acumen with experience navigating framework agreements and pricing.
• Strong analytical capability; Excel essential, Power BI a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of oncology and cancer-care suppliers, driving performance and reliability.
• Lead sourcing activities (RFIs, RFPs, RFQs) and negotiate contracts.
• Ensure ESG standards are embedded across supplier selection and performance monitoring.
• Mitigate supply risks such as shortages, allocations, or discontinuations.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels aligned to patient demand and homecare needs.
• Collaborate with clinical, operational, pharmacy, and finance teams.
• Support compliance across NHS and pharma-funded homecare contracts.
• Champion continuous improvement and ensure SOPs and regulatory requirements are upheld.

Skills

Procurement in healthcare

Forecasting

Purchasing

Inventory management

Issue resolution

Commercial acumen

Analytical ability

Excel

Power BI

ERP familiarity

Collaborative communication

Attention to detail

Governance mindset

Education

CIPS Level 4 Diploma

Tools

Excel

Power BI

MS Dynamics 365

Job description

Role Information

Sciensus are looking to appoint a Category Specialist – Oncology into our procurement team. This is a new role and you’ll play a vital part in ensuring cancer patients receive the medicines, equipment, and services they need, exactly when they need them.

Its a hybrid working role, coming into our Burton office at least 2 days a week.

If you thrive in a fast‑paced, highly regulated healthcare environment and want your work to directly impact patient outcomes, this role is for you.

You’ll become the expert link between pharmaceutical suppliers, internal clinical teams, and the wider supply chain — managing oncology product categories that are critical to life‑changing treatment.

From forecasting demand and handling complex supply risks, to leading competitive sourcing and building strategic supplier relationships, you’ll ensure our oncology services remain resilient, efficient, compliant, and always centred around patient care.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage a portfolio of oncology and cancer‑care suppliers, driving performance and reliability.
• Lead sourcing activities (RFIs, RFPs, RFQs) and negotiate commercially strong contracts.
• Ensure ESG standards are embedded across supplier selection and performance monitoring.
• Proactively monitor and mitigate supply risks such as shortages, allocations, or discontinuations.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels aligned to patient demand and homecare service needs.
• Work closely with clinical, operational, pharmacy, and finance teams to deliver seamless service.
• Support framework compliance across NHS and pharma‑funded homecare contracts.
• Champion continuous improvement and ensure SOPs and regulatory requirements are upheld.
• Your work will help secure the right products, from the right suppliers, at the right time — keeping our supply chain dependable and our patients supported.

What You Bring

• Significant experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare procurement.
• Strong knowledge of Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
• Proven skills in forecasting, purchasing, inventory management and issue resolution.
• Commercial acumen with experience navigating framework agreements and pricing.
• Strong analytical capability — Excel proficiency essential, Power BI a bonus.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365).
• A collaborative communicator able to influence and build strong relationships.
• High attention to detail and governance mindset.
• CIPS Level 4 Diploma (or working towards) is required.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Yearly pay reviews.
• Contribution based pension scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Employee benefits platform (retailer discounts and much more).
• Private medical (after qualifying period).
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Annual company event.
• In the Burton Upon Trent office we have an onsite gym, canteen, prayer room, and quiet room.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer and we have also successfully gained the National Equality Standard (NES is the UK’s leading Equity, Diversity and Inclusion standard which was developed by the UK Government and the CBI). We are committed to the fair treatment of all candidates, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. We welcome applications from all and we select candidates based on skills, qualifications, and experience. Please talk to us during the application process to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may require.