Category Buyer - COM​/DES​/CATB

Job Title: Category Buyer
Function: Diagnostic, Equipment and Services
Location: Hybrid working - 2 days in our Daresbury Office
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £36,446 with potential to rise to £40,495 over 3 years
Closing Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026

We have a great opportunity for a Category Buyer role within our Diagnostics team.

The Category Buyer will contribute to specific category or product group strategy to improve the supply chain, reduce risk, create competitive advantage and deliver cost savings. Through a focus on product range, offers and how products are brought to market, and in close collaboration with key stakeholders, create product groups that maximise value both for customers and the organisation. Contribute with insights into industry and consumer trends and support the development of recommendations to optimise new product launches.

• Deliver specific category goals within a category plan/program in line with the organisations’ procurement strategy.
• Produce accurate reports for others by collecting data from a variety of standard sources and inputting that data into standard formats.
• Explore and develop a basic understanding of external developments or emerging issues.
• Carry out prescribed stakeholder management activities by following existing procedures; provide support to others in building and optimising relationships and interactions with external and internal stakeholders, including key decision makers, regulators, public organisations, governmental institutions, insurance companies, providers, professional communities, and customer/client/patient groups.
• Collate and analyse data using pre-set tools, methods and formats. Involves working independently.
• Collect and collate information on the key cost drivers, market dynamics and issues, areas of innovation, and alternative suppliers for more senior colleagues to provide solid market information for decision making.
• Provide a quality service to customers while identifying opportunities to secure new business or support retention. Responsibilities may include dealing with complex queries and investigating and resolving customer problems.

You will need to have proven experience within an Assistant Buyer / Junior Buyer / Procurement Assistant role, ideally from the Public and NHS Sectors.

In addition, we will expect you to be able to demonstrate:

• Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on analysing data trends for use in reports to help guide decision making.
• Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on analysing data from multiple sources to draw appropriate conclusions and make suitable recommendations.
• Uses clear and effective verbal communications skills without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on expressing ideas, requesting actions and formulating plans or policies.
• Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to negotiate independently while providing guidance and training to others on how to help the organisation by obtaining consensus between two or more internal or external parties who may have different interests.
• Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on developing appropriate plans or performing necessary actions based on recommendations and requirements.
• Communicates with other people without requiring supervision and provides technical guidance when required on speaking in a clear, concise, and compelling manner.
• A car user is preferable, as you may occasionally be required to travel to our Wakefield office or attend supplier visits.

• Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.
• We recognise our employees' hard work and contributions with annual bonus schemes, long service, and colleague recognition awards.
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
• A focus on your…