Heads of Category

About the Role

We are recruiting two Heads of Category within the Med Tech team at NHS Supply Chain. This strategic leadership position is pivotal in defining and implementing category vision, enhancing commercial performance, and steering innovative strategies to fuel business expansion. The role involves close collaboration with senior stakeholders, leveraging market knowledge, customer insights, and commercial skills to optimise category results, uncover new opportunities, and guide dynamic teams towards exceptional achievements.

The incumbent will devise and carry out category and product group strategies that improve supply chain effectiveness, diminish risks, generate cost efficiencies, and build sustainable competitive advantages. Responsibilities include managing product categories strategically, ensuring optimal product assortments, commercial offerings, and marketing strategies that deliver value to both customers and the organisation. The role champions innovation, nurtures supplier partnerships, and drives commercial excellence to enhance category outcomes, elevate customer experiences, and align with organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement departmental and category strategies, pre-empting challenges and seizing opportunities to deliver cost savings, reduce risk, and provide measurable value through vital programmes.
• Offer expert leadership and strategic counsel by interpreting complex policies, resolving challenging issues, and aligning organizational decisions with broader business goals.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, creating engagement plans, collaborating internally and externally to promote effective communication, influence, and value creation.
• Lead insight activities into customer and market trends by analysing extensive data, recognizing emerging patterns, and converting insights into actionable business strategies and tailored solutions.
• Promote performance, accountability, and operational excellence by setting clear targets, tracking results, and executing corrective measures to meet departmental and organisational goals.
• Encourage continuous improvement and organisational growth through team development, maintaining industry and regulatory knowledge, and inspiring colleagues to achieve strategic results aligned with the mission and values.

What We Offer

• Hybrid work model with the flexibility to divide time between office and remote work.
• Annual bonuses, long service awards, and recognition programmes to appreciate contributions.
• 27 days paid holiday plus bank holidays, with an option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• Extensive development opportunities including in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications.
• One day of paid wellbeing leave as well as 24/7 employee assistance program availability.
• Generous pension scheme with a 12% employer contribution based on employee contributions.
• Flexible benefits that include life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, health and dental plans, and options for additional pension contributions.
• Two days of paid leave allocated for volunteering activities.
• Access to special discounts such as the Blue Light Card and NHS specific offers.

About NHS Supply Chain

NHS Supply Chain supports the NHS by sourcing, supplying, and delivering healthcare products, services, and food across England and Wales. Serving all NHS Trusts with a national distribution network, managing over a thousand suppliers and fulfilling more than eight million orders annually to over 17,000 locations, NHS Supply Chain enables NHS staff to concentrate on providing superior patient care.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Proven track record in developing and executing category strategies that align with broader business aims and deliver long-term benefits including cost savings.
• Advanced skills in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and relationship management to enhance performance and reduce risks.
• Ability to cultivate and manage senior stakeholder relationships, effectively influencing business decisions.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate spend data, market intelligence, and industry developments supporting informed decision-making.
• Experience in managing supply chain risks, ensuring compliance, and upholding procurement governance standards.

Additional Information

This role requires a hybrid working approach with in-office attendance mandated two days per week. The contract type is permanent with a salary starting at £93,504 and potential growth to £110,004 over three years. The closing date for applications is 29th July 2026. NHS Supply Chain promotes an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated, encouraging applications even if candidates don't fully meet the listed criteria. Applicants seeking assistance during the application process can contact the talent acquisition team. The company reserves the right to close applications early when sufficient candidates are identified.