Category Lead – DHSC PPE Pandemic Preparedness

Job Title: Category Lead

Function: Commercial - Medical and Surgical Consumables

Hybrid Worker - Expectation is two days per week on site at either our Nottingham, Sheffield or Wakefield office

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: Offered on a starting salary of £65,920 with the potential to increase to £77,553 over the course of three years, plus a car allowance of £7,000

Closing Date: Monday, 16th November 2026

NHS Supply Chain currently has an opportunity for a Category Lead to join our team during an exciting period of transformation, working to make it easier for the NHS to put patients first.

Role Purpose

Reporting to Head of Category (Surgical Consumables and PPE), this role provides senior commercial leadership for the PPE category within the Department of Health and Social Care’s pandemic preparedness programme - a nationally critical capability underpinning the UK’s ability to respond to future health emergencies. The post-holder will be responsible for shaping and delivering the strategy for a stockpile exceeding 100,000 pallets and representing over £150m of public investment. The role ensures PPE supply is resilient, cost-effective, and operationally viable, with sufficient readiness to support the UK through the first wave of a future pandemic.

Context

The pandemic preparedness stockpile is a large-scale, high-value national asset designed to ensure rapid response capability in the event of a public health emergency. Significant recent investment in PPE and ongoing requirements to manage stock expiry, cost pressures, and supply chain resilience mean there is a need to transform the current operating model into a more dynamic, sustainable, and efficient system. The role operates across DHSC, NHS Supply Chain, and the wider health system, requiring close collaboration with senior stakeholders and suppliers to deliver national priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the DHSC PPE category strategy, aligned to national preparedness and commercial objectives
• Ensure the stockpile meets required readiness levels while balancing cost, risk, and operational constraints
• Drive supply chain transformation, including implementation of supplier-managed inventory, stock rotation, and reusable PPE solutions
• Manage a high-value category, delivering cost savings, cost avoidance, and value for money
• Provide expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders, including supporting ministerial decision-making and approvals
• Build and maintain effective relationships across DHSC, NHS Supply Chain, NHS providers, and suppliers
• Shape supplier markets to improve resilience, innovation, and sustainability
• Identify, assess, and manage risks relating to supply disruption, stock expiry, and financial exposure
• Ensure all activity is delivered in line with procurement regulations and governance requirements

Key Accountabilities / Outcomes

• Effective PPE readiness maintained to support the UK’s pandemic first-wave response
• Financial exposure from expiring, obsolete, or surplus stock reduced
• Innovative and sustainable supply chain solutions successfully implemented
• Measurable commercial benefits delivered, including cost savings and operational efficiencies
• Supply chain resilience and supplier performance strengthened
• Agreed work plan objectives delivered to time and quality standards

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in commercial, procurement, or category management leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of the NHS and wider healthcare system.
• Proven track record of delivering outcomes within complex, high-value, and strategically important environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience engaging with senior leaders and executive-level stakeholders.
• Ability to operate effectively and make decisions in fast-paced, complex, and ambiguous environments.

Desirable

• Experience of developing and implementing supply chain strategies and/or leading large-scale inventory management programmes.
• Experience working within the public sector and/or a highly regulated environment.

What can we offer you?

• 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
• We are dedicated to your development, through in-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
• A focus on your well-bein