Head of Category Procurement – Diagnostics: Sponsorship Available

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Health Procurement Liverpool (HPL) is a single shared procurement service for:

  • Alder Hey Children’s Hospital;
  • Cheshire & Wirral Partnership;
  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre;
  • Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital;
  • The Walton Centre

HPL was established in April 2021 and is hosted by The Walton CentrE. Each of the organisations named above is an equal partner in the service and is responsible for the strategic direction of the function.

The Head of Category Procurement will be responsible for strategic procurement activities supporting the Cheshire & Merseyside Diagnostics and Pathology networks.

The post holder will be required to support and manage the delivery of Procurement schemes, individually leading and delivering a number of high profile complex projects, which will demonstrate and deliver value for money and innovation whilst meeting the needs of all organisation(s) taking part.

The post holder will be required to provide sound Procurement advice to key stakeholders across the network whilst engaging, building and maintaining strategic working relationships with both internal/external colleagues and suppliers.

The post holder will lead on contract management activities across a portfolio of suppliers/contracts, monitoring performance, managing risks and relationships and driving continuous improvement to support key objectives and patient care outcomes of the network.

Main duties of the job

Please see Head of Category Procurement job description and person specification attached which includes details of the main duties of this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Full Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (MCIPS) qualification & Membership by examination or equivalent experience
  • Educated to masters level or equivalent

Desirable

  • Prince 2 project management
  • Evidence of continued professional development
  • Contract Management Qualification
  • GCF ADC Programme (Commercial Level)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Relevant experience in an NHS public sector procurement environment with a track record of achievement
  • Fully conversant with the application of EU/UK procurement legislation/tendering processes & procedures
  • Experience of contract, stakeholder & supplier management
  • Project management experience
  • Delivery of demanding savings targets through Procurement activities
  • Experienced in using a range of computer packages /applications
  • Experienced in the use of E-Procurement systems
  • Evidence of on-going professional development
  • Experience of managing both a strategic and materials management/operational procurement service within an NHS setting
  • Commercial and business skills
  • Ability to review and interpret complex contractual agreements

Desirable

  • Understanding of stock and inventory management systems and solutions

Skills & Atrributes

Essential

  • Sound Data Analysis skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Excellent organisational skills to ensure deadlines are prioritised and met
  • Excellent Key Board Skills and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools in particular Word and Excel
  • Understanding of current best practice in all aspects of supply chain management
  • Proven influencing and negotiation skills
  • Understanding of the current / future NHS agenda in Procurement
  • Ability to build meaningful business relationship both internally across the organisation and externally with suppliers
  • Excellent Leadership skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.