Deputy Category Manager - HR & Professional Services

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health organization in London is seeking a Deputy Category Manager for HR & Professional Services. The ideal candidate will manage procurement processes, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with legal frameworks. A background in purchasing and relevant leadership skills is essential. The position offers a competitive salary range of £56,276 to £63,176 annually and the potential for positive community impact.

Qualifications

• High level of education with 5 GCSEs including English and Maths needed.
• Active membership with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply is preferred.
• Experience in purchasing and contracting duties within an organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement processes for HR & Professional Services.
• Negotiate contracts with major suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with EU tendering procedures.

Skills

Flexible customer focused approach

Excellent communication skills

Strong analytical skills

Knowledge of Non Clinical Categories

Knowledge of Healthcare regulatory frameworks

Education

A minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths

Higher education in a business related subject

Membership of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

Fully qualified as a Chartered Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

Job description

Deputy Category Manager - HR & Professional Services

The closing date is 03 December 2025

South West London Procurement Partnership was established in 2021 to provide procurement services to our customers and patients across South West London. We look after over £1.4bn of non‑pay spend for 5 organisations, c.30,000 customers and ensure that over 1m patients get the goods and services they need to be provided with excellent care. Our aim is to provide world class commercial and operational procurement services to ensure that not only do we provide the excellent care our patients need, but that the organisations we serve contribute to their local communities beyond the medical care - by focusing on quality, sustainability and social value as anchor institutions.

SWLPP manages the provision of all goods and services. Our aim is to ensure that our customers get true value for money in a compliant, sustainable and innovative way - by providing strategic category and contract management expertise, logistics and data analytics. We are at the forefront of ICS procurement development and play a key part on the shaping of the national procurement agenda.

We want to foster and encourage a culture of innovation and “doing things differently”. Challenging the status quo and being a partner of choice to our customers.

Please note that an Excel assessment may be included as part of the interview process.

Main duties of the job

Procurement vacancy – Deputy Category Manager (HR & Professional Services)

Please refer to Main Duties/ Key Result Areas of the Job, as advertised in job advert.

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the postholder.

About us

The procurement role is based primarily at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust which is one of the country's principal teaching hospitals and our main site is shared with St George's, University of London, which trains medical students and carries out advanced medical research. We have over 9,000 dedicated staff serving a population of 1.3 million across south‑west London.

We deliver a large number of services, such as cardiothoracic medicine and surgery, neurosciences and renal transplantation. We also cover significant populations from Surrey and Sussex, totalling around 3.5 million people. As well as acute hospital services, we provide a wide variety of specialist care and a range of community services to patients.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role.

Person Specification

Qualification & Education

• A high standard of education, to a minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths.
• Documentation of higher education.
• Membership of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (or actively working towards).
• Higher education in a business related subject.
• Fully qualified as a Chartered Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Experience

• Experience of purchasing and contracting duties within a complex organisation.
• Knowledge of EU tendering / contracting procedures / legislation and contract law.
• First‑hand experience of negotiation with suppliers on major contract.
• Experience with hands‑on procurement practices while working at a category management level within an NHS Trust.
• First‑hand experience of letting contracts through the EU tendering / contracting processes and use of all Directives.

Knowledge & Skills

• Able to demonstrate a flexible, customer focused approach, proven track record of developing and managing an effective, motivated and multi‑skilled project team.
• Excellent communication; written & oral to senior manager level.
• Strong analytical skills.
• A good knowledge of Non Clinical Categories.
• A good knowledge of Healthcare regulatory frameworks.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent organisational skills.
• To resolve problems promoting an environment of trust, honesty and open discussion, demonstrating sound leadership skills whilst being able to work as a key member of a wider team.
• Ability to cope under pressure and remain calm in difficult situations.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a year (incl HCAS (inner)).