Procurement Category Manager

Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn; King's Lynn and West Norfolk; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Free counselling service

Stream app access

Perimenopause/Menopause support

Staff networks

Job summary

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 procurement professional to lead a defined category within Corporate Procurement. You will manage strategic sourcing, ensure cost-effective non-pay expenditure, and deliver timely supply to wards and departments across the Trust.

Responsibilities include developing the procurement work plan, working with managers, and applying Atamis Health Commercial System at an intermediate level to achieve cost improvements and

Qualifications

• CIPS member / working towards, Graduate in Business/similar or qualified by experience
• Experience in NHS Purchasing / Supplies
• In depth understanding of Public Procurement Regulations
• Managing staff
• Experience using Atamis Health Commercial System at intermediate level

Responsibilities

• Take the lead on defined category and be recognised as category authority
• Provide professional/technical procurement advice to achieve continuous improvements
• Represent the Trust regionally and nationally on defined category
• Deliver the procurement work plan through various techniques
• Support market, supplier and product research for best value purchases
• Deliver contracts and develop methods to maximise commercial opportunities
• Support contracting/tendering activities with management information when required

Skills

NHS procurement

Category management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Education

CIPS member / working towards

Graduate in Business or equivalent

Tools

Atamis Health Commercial System

Job description

Main area Corporate Procurement Category (Digital, Estates, Wider Corporate) Grade Band 5 Contract 6 months (This post is fixed term, however, existing Trust employees are welcome to apply as a secondment providing they have agreement from their current line manager before they apply) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 426-235-26CC-B

Site The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn Town Kings Lynn Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 22/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

To lead on procurement for a range of goods and services within a defined category, ensuring the distribution of non-pay expenditure within the category is applied in the most cost-effective manner ensuring timely delivery to all wards and departments. To be regarded and recognised as the category lead for their designated area throughout the wider organisation.
The role includes leading on all strategic procurement with a value of >£50k associated with the defined category, managing procurement exercises in accordance with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and current Public Contracts Regulations and identifying and achieving cost improvements ensuring CIP targets are met or exceeded.
To act as an ambassador for the Procurement Department, influence Trust staff re choice of products (cost and quality) and make sure all queries and complaints are dealt with in a professional and positive manner. Use category knowledge and expertise to persuade and drive positive change within the wider organisation and regional health system.

Consideration will be given to any applicant with demonstrable experience of using the Atamis Health Commercial System to an intermediate level.

Main duties of the job

• Take the lead on defined category, be recognised within the Trust as the category authority
• Work closely with managers and staff in procurement matters and provide sound professional/ technical advice and information in order to achieve continuous improvements. Working with managers and staff informally and through Product Advisory Groups or similar to regularly review products, rationalise usage, minimise costs, and identify and achieve quality and/or cost improvements.
• To represent the Trust regionally and nationally in relation to defined category
• Identify with and help deliver key department goals
• Take an active role in the development and delivery of the annual Procurement work plan by various procurement techniques
• Support market, supplier and product research to inform best value purchases
• Take responsibility for the purchase of goods by delivering contracts and develop new and innovative methods of evaluating quotation returns to maximise commercial opportunities
• Support activity on contracting/tendering for goods and services including providing management information when required

Working for our organisation

There’s never been a more exciting time to join TeamQEH. We’re working on a once in a generation opportunity to build a new state-of-the-art hospital due to open in 2031/32 and we are also carrying out on one of the biggest pieces of digital transformation work we’ve ever undertaken.

Our new electronic patient record (EPR) will replace paper-based patient records from 2026 and will lead to better, safer, joined-up care at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and beyond.

At The QEH we provide a comprehensive range of specialist, acute, obstetrics and community-based services to around 331,000 people across west and north Norfolk, North Cambs and South Lincs.

We are an ambitious organisation that upholds our values of kindness, wellness and fairness. We strive for continuous quality improvement, recently demonstrated in our 2024 CQC maternity inspection rating our services as 'Good', and we are proud to be a place to learn and grow through recognised learning and apprenticeships.

We recognise and reward our 4,000 staff and volunteers, priding ourselves on a community atmosphere and positive team spirit. We have approx. 530 beds across 33 wards and have newly built education and training facilities, a range of modern award-winning centres alongside a talented team of people ready to give you a warm welcome. We love working here and think you will too.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information about this role.

Qualifications/training and professional development

• CIPS member / working towards, Graduate in Business/similar or qualified by experience

Experience

• Purchasing & Supplies gained in the NHS
• In depth understanding of the Public Procurement Regulations
• Managing staff
• Demonstrable experience in the use of the Atamis Health Commercial System intermediate level.

Skills, abilities, and knowledge

• NHS Purchasing / Supply Chain
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
• Ability to interpret and communicate financial information
• Ability to work accurately, methodically, systematically and using own initiative whilst under pressure
• Confident with presentation skills

Applications are welcome from anyone who meets the criteria specified in the person specification regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. Only those applicants who demonstrate in the application form how they meet the criteria in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications and experience, but we also recruit individuals who possess and can demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our core values (attached).

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to the transfer of information in the application form to Trac jobs & if you are offered a job your personal information will be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system. Please check your email account including your junk folder, regularly for communication regarding this vacancy.

We offer our staff a wide range of benefits and support including:

• Flexible working opportunities
• Free counselling service
• Access to Stream - an app-based service that provides instant earned wage access*
• Support and advice for staff affected by either Perimenopause or Menopause
• Opportunity to join our Staff Networks which include Armed Forces, REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Culture Heritage), Disability and LGBTQ+ networks.

We are committed to being a menopause friendly employer.

Certificates of Sponsorship / Visa and Immigration

Although the salary for Band 3+posts is expected to meet the applicable UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) salary threshold from December 2026 and may therefore be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, (subject to the immigration rules in force at the time of application) applicants are responsible for checking their own eligibility against the relevant immigration requirements. The availability of sponsorship and any visa application remain subject to UKVI rules and approval. If you are not eligible, any offer of employment already made may be withdrawn.

Please note that all Nursing and Healthcare Assistant (HCA) vacancies require a face-to-face interview.

If you require sponsorship to work in this role including where you are currently sponsored, and wish to change employer, please review the Skilled Worker visa eligibility criteria before applying. Further information is available on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Applications

We encourage applicants to ensure that applications accurately reflect their own skills, experience, achievements and motivations. While AI and other digital tools can support drafting and proofreading, applications should be written in a way that genuinely represents the individual applicant.

During our assessment process, we are looking to understand your personal knowledge, experience and suitability for the role. Applications that rely on AI-generated content may not provide an accurate reflection of your capabilities and could make it more difficult for us to assess your suitability fairly or accurately during the interview process.

We encourage candidates to take the time to prepare accurate applications using their own examples and experiences, enabling a fair and transparent recruitment process for all applicants.

Important Notice for Applicants

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safe and fair recruitment practices. We do not charge any fees for applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or offers of employment. All vacancies are advertised through our official recruitment channels and all recruitment communications will come from authorised Trust representatives using official contact details. If you are asked to make a payment, provide banking information, or have concerns about the authenticity of a recruitment communication, please contact our Recruitment Team for verification before taking any action.

For Overseas Applicants

Please be aware that fraudulent organisations and individuals sometimes falsely claim to represent NHS employers. The Trust will never request payment for employment opportunities, Certificates of Sponsorship, recruitment administration, or visa support. Applicants should only rely on information published on the Trust's official website and recruitment systems.

The Trust reserves the right to review applications from former employees and may take previous employment history into account as part of the selection process.