Senior NHS Category Lead — Food & Procurement Strategy

Compass Group; Chester, Chertsey, Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service provider is seeking an experienced Category Lead for NHS Supply Chain. This senior role involves defining and delivering category strategy, leading procurement activities, and driving continuous improvement across a complex supplier base worth approximately £80m. The candidate will need strong supplier management abilities, experience in public sector procurement, and a proven track record in team leadership. This position offers the opportunity to influence strategy within a market-leading organization and work closely with NHS stakeholders.

Benefits

Opportunity to deliver value to NHS

Influence at a senior level

Join a market-leading organization

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex supplier, distributor and client relationships.
• Ideally experience within public sector procurement and associated legislation.
• Proven track record of leading high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of buyers to deliver year-on-year savings.
• Define and execute category strategies aligned to objectives.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across teams.

Skills

Supplier relationship management

Commercial acumen

Analytical capability

Change management

Leadership

Job description

A leading food service provider is seeking an experienced Category Lead for NHS Supply Chain. This senior role involves defining and delivering category strategy, leading procurement activities, and driving continuous improvement across a complex supplier base worth approximately £80m. The candidate will need strong supplier management abilities, experience in public sector procurement, and a proven track record in team leadership. This position offers the opportunity to influence strategy within a market-leading organization and work closely with NHS stakeholders.