JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title Assistant Category Manager
Pay Band 5
Department BSOL Procurement Collaborative ( BSOL PC)
Division Finance
Reports to Category Manager
Professionally Managing Director, BSOL Procurement Collaborative
Responsible to
JOB SUMMARY
The BSOL Procurement Collaborative (BSOL PC), hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS
Foundation Trust (UHB) provides procurement and supply chain services to UHB; Birmingham
Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust.
The procurement team plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high quality patient care whilst
ensuring value for money is achieved and we are looking to recruit a pro-active, self-motivated and
ambitious Assistant Category Manager to join our team.
This role will be based at the BSOL PC offices, Regent Court Birmingham, but could also involve
visiting / working at any of the BSOL PC sites as and when required.
The Acting Assistant Category Manager post is a key role in our organisation. In this role you will
interface with various stakeholders at all Trusts within the BSOL Procurement Collaborative. You will
be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of methodologies to facilitate
and monitor contracts. You will effectively provide support to the Category Manager who will
manage the internal operations and resources to enable the delivery of saving targets and work-
plans. You will be expected to build and maintain professional relationships, implement change and
enable the Procurement Department to continuously improve the service delivered to stakeholders.
Candidates who have applied within the last three months need not apply on this occasion.
For further details please contact either
Amy Webster – Deputy Head of Procurement amy.webster@uhb.nhs.uk
TEAM/DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE CHART
Head of
Procurement
Deputy Head of
Procurement
Category Category Category
Manager Manager Manager
Acting Assistant
Catgeory
Manager
KEY SKILLS
Influencing
Negotiation
Stakeholder Engagement
Communication Skills
Time Management
Strong Analytical Skills
Supplier Management
Data Analysis
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
STRATEGIC
1. Support the Procurement team to increase procurement influence over non pay spend
across all departments within the Trust to ensure strategies deliver value for money on product
spend and optimum service provision.
2. Validate opportunities and put forward onto the procurement work plan.
3. Have responsibility for the implementation and on-going management of the e-catalogue &
e-commerce platforms as well as other supporting systems; provide data statistics across the
procurement function, ensuring that an effective and efficient end to end procurement and supply
chain service is provided to end users across the Trusts.
4. Managing data accuracy to ensure accurate and clean data is being used by the Procurement
team.
5. Review and develop existing performance metrics to monitor success in line with the Trusts
objectives and NHS Standards for Procurement.
6. Development of appropriate data and reports in order to measure and manage Procurement
deliverables.
7. Provide technical support for existing reports, dashboards, or other tools to all procurement
staff and stakeholders.
8. Support the Category Manager in ensuring all non-pay spend is governed by and subject to
proficient procurement demonstrated through reporting of key metrics.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1. Lead on a portfolio of projects assigned by the Category Manager, Head of Procurement or wider
Senior Management Team.
2. Approach projects and tasks with commercial astuteness, deploying creativity and innovation
supported by clearly defined strategies, aligning to the Department and Trust’s objectives and
targets.
3. Confidently challenge the status quo in a constructive non-confrontational manner and have the
ability to influence others to adopt alternative viewpoints and solutions in order to stimulate and
embrace change.
4. Deliver assigned projects and tasks against a clearly defined timeline with agreed outcomes and
deliverables, whilst balancing conflicting work priorities.
5. Design structured project plans, which will include a named project team, timeline, defined
procurement process, communication strategy and agreed outcomes.
6. Maintain close working relationships with internal stakeholder to ensure sufficient in-depth
understanding of their project roles and responsibilities.
7. Assist in the development of appropriate commercial and best practice benchmarks to compare
price, quality, and organisational efficiency, through ongoing audit of internal practices and
research.
MANAGEMENT
1. Ensure full compliance with all National and E.U legislation relating to procurement, NHS
Procurement policies, Trust Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and departmental
policies and procedures
2. Advise and provide guidance to Trust stakeholder’s level to ensure compliance on all aspects of
procurement.
3. Assist in managing the introduction of alternative products and sources of supply to achieve high
levels of rationalisation and/or standardisation.
4. Develop and maintain a sound knowledge of all relevant commodities and supply markets through
conducting market research.
5. Take responsible for the leading the tender process and preparing all associated documentation.
6. Participate in analysing and evaluating received tender bids, applying a degree of analytical skill
whilst taking into account assimilation of other determining factors in the decision making process.
7. Present options to allow recommendations to be made, based on agreement with stakeholders
for consideration in a clear and concise format and prepare all necessary reports required for
approval purposes, in order to conclude the subsequent awarding of contracts.
8. Ensure the agreed portfolio of medical or corporate contracts is organised so as not to expose the
Trust to undue risk.
9. Maintain full and accurate records and filing systems of all Procurement work undertaken to
ensure full transparency of the process and required probity.
10. Authorise and verify requisition information using the Trust’s ERP system in line with the Trust
Scheme of Delegation. The post holder will take ownership of all queries relating to their own orders
from delivery to handling invoice queries promptly.
11. Ensure assigned projects are professionally managed against required timelines.
12. Assist with identifying category procurement projects for the Trust to build the annual
Procurement work plan.
13. Assist the Procurement Specialists in face-to-face or virtual contract negotiations, providing well-
prepared analysis of all relevant factors.
14. Assist in identifying key risk areas and ensure that these are reported.
HUMAN RESOURCES
1. Take responsibility for their own continuous development in areas of professional and
technical competencies in line with the Trust’s Appraisal scheme and meet objectives set annually.
2. Provide professional advice to others in the Procurement team and act as a mentor to the
Procurement Assistants and Buyers.
3. To participate in regular team meetings to enhance team communication and sharing of best
practices.
4. Support the Category Manager in ensuring all non-pay spend is governed by and subject to
proficient procurement. Demonstrated through reporting of key metrics.
OTHER
1. Develop strong working relationships with the Trust’s key suppliers and ensure excellent
performance standards are achieved in line with contractual requirements and stakeholders’
expectations
2. Raise the profile of the service and ensure appropriate user involvement in the procurement
of goods and service.
BUDGETARY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
N/A
MANAGEMENT , SUPERVISORY, TEACHING, TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES
To ensure that the use of Information Technology contributes to improving the processes employed
within the department, including but not limited to e-tendering systems, electronic contract
management, work planning and savings databases, and e-catalogues and systems.
To help manage the achievement of set key performance indicators (KPI’s) that demonstrate the
added value of the department to each Division / Trust.
Participate in the training and development of colleagues and Trust staff to enable professional
development and contribute to overall objectives of the department.
Promote and support Procurement development within the department.
To deputise for the Category Manager as and when required.
Ensure you actively remain aware of any local, regional or national changes in relation to public
sector procurement regulations to ensure compliant procurement activity.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Procurement Policy, EU Legislation, UK Law and relevant Trust Standing Financial Instructions.
Develop strong working relationships with the Trust’s key suppliers and to help ensure that excellent
performance standards are achieved in line with contractual requirements and stakeholders’
expectations.
Help raise the profile of the service and ensure appropriate user involvement in the procurement of
goods and services.
EFFORT
Mental and Emotional Effort
Provide reliable professional procurement advice to senior managers/clinicians within the Trusts.
Ensuring all advice conforms to public procurement regulations, Trust policies, and other legislative
requirements all in accordance with the overall Strategic direction of the Trusts / BSOL PC.
Assist with any Medical / Corporate contract disputes and use negotiations and financial skills to
achieve resolutions, working closely with stakeholders within the Trust and any external parties
required.
To help influence Clinicians and Senior Managers to embrace change, often where the benefits of
change are difficult to demonstrate.
TRUST VISION & VALUES
DO NOT AMEND THIS SECTION
The Trust is clear on its vision and values and aims to make sure that they are reflected in all areas of
activity. Our vision is simple; building healthier lives. Our values apply to every member of staff and
help us in all we do and how we do it. They are:
Kind: The kindness that people show to each other every day
Connected: The connections we build with everyone around us
Bold: The ability to be bold in how we think, speak and act
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This job description is designed to assist post holders with understanding what is expected of them
in their role. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust may ask them to undertake
other duties, as required, which are not necessarily specified on the job description but which are
commensurate with the grade of the post.
The job description itself may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder,
within the scope and general level of responsibility attached to the post.
All post holders must take responsibility to ensure that they are aware of and adhere to all Trust
policies, procedures and guidelines relating to their employment regardless of their position within
the Trust.
Last Updated: May 2023
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT CATEGORY MANAGER
TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS
ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
Good Standard of General Education. C.I.P.S. or studying towards.
Educated to degree level and/or or Studying for or willing to study for
extensive relevant experience. Chartered Institute of Procurement and
Supply (CIPS) levels 5 & 6.
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and
Supply (CIPS) level 4.
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
Experience of working in a Experience of working in public sector
Procurement background or procurement ideally the NHS.
Customer Services Environment. End to End Supply chain management.
Experience of manipulating highly Awareness and use of Business Intelligence
complex data to produce automated Tools (QlikView/Cognos/Business Objects).
reports. EU procurement.
Experience of using databases and Contract law.
analytics tools. Project management.
Experience of working in a
pressurised environment.
Working within a team
Working within a results driven
environment.
Sound knowledge of contract
management and law
Negotiation skills
Supply chain management.
SKILLS & ABILITY
ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
Excellent numeracy and literacy skills Professional communication skills and an
Excellent analytical and problem ability to understand and impart a wide
solving skills range of complex, sensitive and specialized
Good keyboard skills information at all levels.
Good telephone skills. Ability to support and supervise the day-to-
Excellent prioritisation and day work of more junior staff.
organisation skills.
Effective verbal communication and
interpersonal skills
Customer orientated.
Good Time Management skills and
ability to meet deadlines.
Results driven.
Change management.
Good presentation skills.
Excellent decision making and
problem solving skills.
Use own initiative.
OTHER SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT
ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE
Flexibility to work at different Ability to work flexibly across multiple trust
locations. sites.
Flexible approach to working times.
Evidence of commitment to Continual Can use own initiative to develop new ways
Professional Development (CPD). of working/offer solutions
Flexibility to work at different
locations.
Flexible approach to working times.
Evidence of commitment to Continual
Professional Development (CPD)
