Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Category Manager (Pathology)

The closing date is 13 July 2025

Job summary

The role is based at Archipelago in Frimley (approx. 10 minute walk to Frimley Park Hospital), however, is a cross-site role with responsibilities across the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services network. BSPS is currently a joint venture between Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals, Frimley Health Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. The post holder will be expected to form close working relationships; Internally with Chiefs of Services, Associate Directors, Budget Holders, Trust Staff; Externally with NHS Supply Chain, Crown Commercial Services, NHS Commercial Solutions (and other NHS and non-NHS Procurement Hubs); Suppliers with Regional Sales Managers, Account Managers and Local Sales Representatives

As the technical expert, you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive procurement service within the category ensuring compliance and adherence to all policies and procedures, including European Law, English law, and the Trust's standing financial instructions in the delivery of all procurement activity, whilst staying abreast of any changes in procurement legislation

Office presence is required but a mix of in person and remote working is available.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Category Manager is responsible for the delivery of strategic procurement initiatives on a specific/allocated portfolio of sourcing categories on behalf of the trust in compliance with Procurement legislation, UK law and trust standing financial instructions. The post holder will be responsible for the efficient and effective delivery of procurement services, within a specific category, whilst maximizing value for money opportunities through process improvement and total cost of ownership modelling. The post holder will report to the Head of Clinical Procurement.

You will be required to take responsibility for a delegated category, influencing a total expenditure in excess of £30m. The post holder will develop, manage and report on an agreed work plan and savings plan, which will include the realisation of annual savings and compliance with all relevant procurement legislation. The post holder is expected to act as the subject matter expert within their categories, leading by example, demonstrating a high level of knowledge, credibility, tact and diplomacy to solve complex problems and manage demanding and sometimes stressful situations.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,877 to £62,626 a year per annum incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

151-SL500

Job locations

Archipelago, Building 1

Lyon Way

Frimley

GU16 7UJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, please refer to the job description/person specification attached to this vacancy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full list of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, please refer to the job description/person specification attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Member of CIPS or equivalent
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Evidence of CPD
Evidence of CPD related to purchasing and supply chain management

Desirable

Project management (PRINCE 2 or equivalent)
An appropriate professional and/ or management qualification

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of Category Management role
Demonstrable experience of running clinical procurement projects
Evidence of achievements in terms of savings / service improvements
Evidence of ability to plan, develop and implement initiatives without direct supervision
Experience in people management

Desirable

Experience of working with senior staff and clinicians
Experience of working with the NHS Terms and Conditions of Supply
Experience of applying principles of change management

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

Ability to effectively manage and successfully deliver a number of projects of varying complexities with competing timescales
Able to work on a number of projects or pieces of work simultaneously and deliver to agreed deadlines, despite likely conflicting pressures from various stakeholders
Ability to analyse and interpret complex information to assess issues, anticipate problems and provide effective solutions to meet the needs of stakeholders
Demonstrable advanced IT skills including specialist software for contract management, e-tendering, mathematical, logical formulas and to generate accurate charts/graphs

Desirable

Ability to work autonomously with credibility at a senior level of the organisation
Developed knowledge of Microsoft products and able to use initiative and knowledge of these products to suggest and implement process improvements

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Member of CIPS or equivalent
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Evidence of CPD
Evidence of CPD related to purchasing and supply chain management

Desirable

Project management (PRINCE 2 or equivalent)
An appropriate professional and/ or management qualification

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of Category Management role
Demonstrable experience of running clinical procurement projects
Evidence of achievements in terms of savings / service improvements
Evidence of ability to plan, develop and implement initiatives without direct supervision
Experience in people management

Desirable

Experience of working with senior staff and clinicians
Experience of working with the NHS Terms and Conditions of Supply
Experience of applying principles of change management

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

Ability to effectively manage and successfully deliver a number of projects of varying complexities with competing timescales
Able to work on a number of projects or pieces of work simultaneously and deliver to agreed deadlines, despite likely conflicting pressures from various stakeholders
Ability to analyse and interpret complex information to assess issues, anticipate problems and provide effective solutions to meet the needs of stakeholders
Demonstrable advanced IT skills including specialist software for contract management, e-tendering, mathematical, logical formulas and to generate accurate charts/graphs

Desirable

Ability to work autonomously with credibility at a senior level of the organisation
Developed knowledge of Microsoft products and able to use initiative and knowledge of these products to suggest and implement process improvements

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Archipelago, Building 1

Lyon Way

Frimley

GU16 7UJ

Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Archipelago, Building 1

Lyon Way

Frimley

GU16 7UJ

Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)