NWSSP Legal & Risk Services
Category Officer
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If you are looking to join NWSSP, please see the additional information below that may be of interest to you:
Our “Benefits” video has been created to highlight and showcase some of the benefits of working for the NHS and NWSSP:- https://youtu.be/zX3x046SDhg
The “Tops Tips – Be Yourself” video has been designed to support candidates applying for roles with NWSSP. We have outlined 8 key steps to help candidates articulate their capabilities and experience when completing applications with NWSSP. https://youtu.be/qe3ibY8b6m4
Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh. Any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
The salary scale for a Band 3 has been adjusted as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/2027 and will be implemented in August 2026 backdated to 01 April 2026 where applicable.
Job Overview
NWSSP is responsible for the full Procure to Pay process for all Health Boards, Trusts, and Special Health Authorities in Wales. A vacancy has arisen for a Category Officer within the National Medical Sourcing team.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop your procurement career in a dynamic, challenging, and high-profile environment. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the application of commercial skills, negotiation; relationship management of internal and external stakeholders.
To be successful in this post, the candidate will be of a continuous improvement mindset; need to be flexible and responsive to changes in priorities; be of a resilient personality; demonstrable track record in delivering creative and innovative service improvement solutions; manage heavy workload at pace; ensure policies and procedures are adhered to ensuring strategic and operational targets are delivered.
Although preferred, it is not essential to have experience of this category, as this learning can be provided as part of 'on the job' training and procurement/commercial skills are transferable.
The organisation recognises the challenges of recruiting high calibre candidates and has a number of bases across Wales. Whilst the base would be Cardiff, hybrid working is a benefit of this role after a period of induction, the successful candidate will be office based/home based 3/2 days per week and discussions may be held in this regard with the successful candidate.
Main duties of the job
An opportunity has arisen for a Category Officer to join the NHS Shared Services - Procurement Services' Team providing professional support to all Health Boards and Trusts across Wales. The successful applicant will, following a period of induction into the team, support the Category Manager to maximise opportunities, rationalisation & ensure value for money, from the identification of demand through to the award and publication of contracts in line with the published category contract programme ensuring compliance with Organisational standards and relevant legislation. The ideal candidate will have office experience with an understanding and application of basic purchasing principles, keen analytical skills with advanced Microsoft Office knowledge.
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The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.
Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people.
Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.
Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone. To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit https://nwssp.nhs.wales/working-for-us/
NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel (public and/or private) off site for meetings (as appropriate) throughout Wales and other parts of the UK
- Deliver excellent customer service to our internal and external customers, helping us to maintain the customer service excellence standard
Skills and Attributes
Essential criteria
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Dynamic approach to work
- Numerate
- Articulate
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Products
- Proven ability to prepare documentation utilising Microsoft products that are both structurally and grammatically correct and capable of final presentation
- Excellent organisational skills
- Proven communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow work through to completion
- Ability to work positively as part of a team
Desirable criteria
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to establish and enhance effective working relationships with stakeholders
Desirable criteria
- Previous work experience in a contracting function: e.g. able to construct specifications, appraise suppliers, invite tenders & evaluate bids, terms and conditions of contact.
- Experience of managing staff
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex data sets
- General understanding of the Procure to Pay process.
- Awareness of Business planning principles
- Working knowledge of quality systems and procedures including problem solving techniques
- Previous experience of working in an office environment
- Knowledge of best practice, benchmarking and performance measurement techniques
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Qualifications And Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Qualified to CIPS (Level 4)/NVQ2/3 or equivalent experience
- 5 GCSE’s grade C and above, including Maths & English or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- 2 A levels or equivalent
- Have or working towards recognised standard in use of IT systems e.g. ECDL, Flexiqual.
We are committed to flexible working and equal opportunities.
If you are short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the email address with which you registered. Please ensure that you check your email account regularly.
Prior consideration for this vacancy will be given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.
When applying for this post it is essential that you read the Job Description and Person Specification (where available) and demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the person specification. Only candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted.
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.
Applicant requirements
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
- JDPS English (PDF, 512.3KB)
- Job Description - Welsh (PDF, 520.3KB)
- OH Form - IG Ffurflen (PDF, 720.5KB)
- NWSSP Recruitment Services Privacy Notice (PDF, 404.2KB)
- NWSSP - About Us (PDF, 6.6MB)
- NWSSP - Our Benefits (PDF, 490.4KB)
- NWSSP - Buddion (PDF, 458.9KB)
- PCGC -Amdanom (PDF, 6.7MB)
- Guidance Notes for Applicants (PDF, 322.5KB)
- Integrated Medium Term Plan 2025-2028 (PDF, 15.1MB)
- Integrated Medium Term Plan 2025-2028 - Cymraeg (PDF, 18.0MB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name: Vicky Evans
- Job title: Assistant Head of National Sourcing
- Email address: vicky.evans@wales.nhs.uk
- Telephone number: 02921 500498
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