Senior Category Manager (Construction & Estates)

Sopra Steria Limited; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading provider of NHS services is looking for two Senior Category Managers to lead teams in Salford. The role involves developing category strategies, managing supplier negotiations, and presenting category performance to leadership. Applicants should have experience in public sector procurement and a commitment to supporting team development. The position offers a salary up to £60,000 per annum with a range of flexible working options and generous benefits, including a car allowance and additional paid leave.

Benefits

Cash alternative car allowance

25 days annual leave, with option to buy extra days

4 x death in service life assurance

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

3 days paid volunteering

5 days paid carers leave

Qualifications

• Background in public sector procurement.
• Solid understanding of Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015.
• Experience managing direct reports.
• Proven experience in high value construction and estates projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of procurement staff.
• Develop and implement category strategies.
• Negotiate with suppliers to drive savings and efficiencies.
• Present procurement performance to senior leadership.

Skills

Team leadership

Public sector procurement

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Negotiation skills

Education

Level 5 CIPS qualification or equivalent

Job description

Overview

We're excited to be recruiting two Senior Category Managers to join our team at NHS SBS. Leading a small team, you will take ownership of either Soft FM within Estates & Facilities (including its associated frameworks) or delivering on our Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy, and Ancillary Services (HPCCAS) and our Modular Buildings Frameworks within Construction & Infrastructure. You will flourish with the challenge of shaping strategic sourcing initiatives across our client base. Driving projects to success within key markets. Prioritising the provision of a professional, adaptable service will allow your efforts to significantly influence the healthcare system and those it supports. Ensuring the team operates confidently in a regulated environment, you will focus on developing, delivering, and managing complex framework agreements for current and future client needs. You will also contribute to the development of strategic plans that drive strong growth across the portfolio. We recognise that work-life balance isn't a luxury - it's a necessity. This is why we offer our employees flexibility to help them achieve a healthier work-life balance and perform at their best. There will be expectations to attend team collaboration meetings on site in our Salford office once monthly. You will also be required to attend client sites, exhibitions and conferences as and when required.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring and supporting a team of buying staff of different levels.
• Developing and implementing short and long-term category strategies.
• Analysing data and identifying key areas for cost savings and process improvements.
• Managing a portfolio of projects. Working closely with key stakeholders to influence procurement choice, drives savings, efficiencies and improve quality.
• Confidently presenting category performance to the Senior Leadership team in a formal "Board" setting.
• Offering procurement support to the customer Service Directors, Heads of Procurement and Key Leaders on a national footprint.
• Negotiating with the supplier base ensuring that all aspects are covered within the category from a product, service and stakeholder basis.

Qualifications

• A background in public sector procurement.
• A solid understanding of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015, PA23, and related policies and mentorship.
• Proven experience operating within public sector procurement frameworks, including a solid awareness of call-off procedures and their practical application.
• Experience managing direct reports. Focusing on supporting their development, enhancing procurement expertise, and building overall team capability.
• Demonstrated expertise in coordinating multiple programmes and developing collaborative relationship management frameworks.
• Proven experience leading complex high value construction and estates projects and programmes, with the resilience to navigate challenges and drive results. Strong market awareness and the ability to stay informed on emerging trends and industry developments.
• Exhibit strong commercial insight and maintain effective, resilient stakeholder engagement.

Desirable Qualifications

• Level 5 CIPS qualification (or working towards), or an alternative comparable qualification.
• Working knowledge of model form contracts such as JCT and NEC3 and NEC4, with practical experience in their application within construction projects.

About the Employer

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) was created by the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver corporate services to the NHS. A unique joint venture with Sopra Steria, a European leader in digital services and software development, we make life easier for NHS employees, patients, and suppliers, and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. Proud members of the NHS family, we provide finance & accounting, digital, procurement and workforce services to more than half the NHS in England. Our solutions are underpinned by cutting‑edge technologies and our teams' expertise, in‑depth understanding of the NHS, and commitment to service excellence.

Diversity and Inclusion

We share common values and unity of purpose with the rest of the NHS family, are committed to being a force for good, and are dedicated and empowered to act responsibly and sustainably at organisational, team and individual level. Would you like to join us on our journey? We embrace difference as a source of creativity, innovation and competitive advantage and are striving to become a more diverse organisation. We welcome applications from people with a diverse variety of backgrounds and identities. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. We have partnered with Vercida, the UK's largest diversity and inclusion focused careers site, where all our vacancies are available in an accessible format. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, please let us know when completing your application. We participate in the Disability Confident scheme and are committed to offering an interview to any candidate with a disability, who meets the minimum criteria for the role. If you believe this could apply to you, please let us know when completing your application.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: up to £60,000 per annum depending upon experience and development needs.
Benefits: £5,400 cash alternative car allowance, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy extra days, 4 x death in service life assurance, private medical insurance, pension, 3 days paid volunteering, 5 days paid carers leave and a generous flexible benefits fund which you can take in cash. We support many ways of working and can offer a range of flexible working arrangements. So, if you're interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible.