Procurement Category Specialist

-; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Doncaster is looking for a Procurement Category Specialist to manage procurement processes efficiently. You will support the entire lifecycle of procurement, working closely with stakeholders and suppliers. The ideal candidate will have a professional procurement qualification, excellent interpersonal skills, and experience in public sector procurement. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your career in procurement within the NHS.

Benefits

Extensive learning opportunities

NHS Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Health and wellbeing support

NHS Car Lease schemes

Discounts on restaurants and other providers

Qualifications

• Experience in a Procurement Department in a category position.
• Capability to interpret reports and market information.
• Working knowledge of Public Procurement rules (UK Directives).

Responsibilities

• Support procurement strategies and manage tender processes.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams.
• Coordinate post-award tasks and assist with contract management.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Understanding of procurement regulations

Attention to detail

Commercial awareness

Education

Professional procurement qualification

5 GCSEs including Maths and English

Tools

Microsoft

Job description

Job Summary

This role offers a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, responsibility, and working collaboratively to make a tangible difference. As a Procurement Category Specialist, you'll support the full procurement lifecycle, managing procurement exercises from end to end with confidence and care. Under the guidance of the Category Manager, you'll take responsibility for the coordination and delivery of tender activity using our e‑tendering platform, ensuring each stage of the process is properly planned, documented and compliant with procurement regulations.

Your communication skills will be essential, as you'll work closely with both internal teams and external suppliers, often acting as a bridge between the two. This requires a good understanding of procurement regulations, attention to detail, and confidence working independently while still knowing when to seek support.

You’ll also contribute to contract management activity, helping to coordinate supplier meetings, maintain action logs, and ensure that performance is monitored and documented effectively.

You’ll need to be confident representing Procurement at meetings, whether that’s gathering information, supporting decision‑making or helping others understand the process and what’s required.

This is a fantastic development opportunity for someone looking to build or grow their career in procurement within the NHS. If you believe in doing purposeful work with a positive attitude we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

You’ll work closely with stakeholders to shape procurement strategies, understand the market, and ensure clarity and fairness throughout the tender process. That includes handling clarification questions, managing evaluation documentation, and ensuring confidentiality and security around sensitive information.

Once a contract is awarded, you’ll support key post‑award tasks such as issuing award letters, preparing standstill documentation, and assisting with formal feedback to suppliers. In some cases, you may also help lead debrief meetings with unsuccessful bidders.

Alongside this, you’ll support the wider contract management function, helping to schedule supplier meetings, record actions, and liaise with the e‑Procurement team to ensure contract data is accurate and up to date. You’ll also contribute to the development of procurement approaches for suitable projects, including end‑to‑end management of sourcing activity and engaging with suppliers in a way that promotes value, transparency and positive working relationships.

This role will give you exposure to a wide range of categories, stakeholders, and procurement challenges. While previous public sector procurement experience is helpful, we welcome candidates with transferable skills and the motivation to grow in the role.

About us

DBTH is one of Yorkshire’s leading acute trusts, serving a population of more than 440,000. Our services are based over three main hospital sites and several additional services employing over 7,000 colleagues. At DBTH we have a comprehensive framework of behaviours that guide us in our daily working lives, these form the DBTH Way.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to the values of We Care and the DBTH Way builds upon these foundations, providing further clarity on what it means to embody these values in our everyday interactions.

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applicants from all sectors of the community, particularly from under–represented groups including those with disabilities, members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.

We offer a range of benefits to support our people, including:

• Extensive range of learning opportunities
• NHS Pension Scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement in line with Terms & Conditions
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing support
• NHS Car Lease schemes and a range of salary sacrifice scheme
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping and finance through external providers

Job responsibilities

Please see attached to the advert a job description and person specification for further details. Please ensure you read both documents carefully. Please note, if your application is successful you will be required to present original certificates of qualifications that are listed in the person specification under essential.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• The preferred candidate will have experience of working within a Procurement Department in a category position.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence to operate at all levels.
• Show a good level of comprehension and ability to interpret reports and other market information.
• Working Knowledge of Public Procurement rules (UK Directives).
• Working knowledge of corporate governance arrangements and public procurement legislation.
• Experience of carrying out procurements from conception to evaluation and implementation.

Desirable

• Experience in advanced negotiation.
• Experience in policy development and implementation.
• Experience of Contract Management.

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Hold a professional procurement qualification (such as Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply) or be willing to work towards.
• 5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Project Management.
• Negotiation Training.
• Report writing Relevant degree or professional qualification or progress to relevant professional qualification, such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
• Ability to write contracts.

Personal Attributes & Skills

Essential

• Tactful and diplomatic.
• IT Skills; including Microsoft.
• Able to prioritise and work within imposed deadlines.
• Commercial awareness.

Desirable

• Ability to produce category strategies for short term and long term savings.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from individuals who require a Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applicants. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. Please note that from 9 April 2025, band 2 & 3 entry roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

Employer details

Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

Address: Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Armthorpe Road, Doncaster, DN2 5LT

Employer's website: [URL missing]