Category Manager

About us

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we're thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. And whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you'll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value, and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

Our function covers a diverse range of categories from Indirect, IT & Digital, Network Operations (Maintenance & Repair), Gas equipment and Services to large scale Construction and Network Equipment, with a clear mission: to enable a clean, fair, and affordable energy future through commercial, responsible and innovative supply chain leadership.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for x2 Category Managers to join our team on a Full Time, Permanent basis!

There are two roles available.

Category Manager - AC Cables:

Reporting into the Head of Category - Group Directs Equipment, the Category Manager - AC Cables is accountable for developing and implementing strategic category strategies and driving and managing supply chain strategies that optimise cost and ensure quality & reliability of supply and leading all procurement activities. This role will have 4 direct reports.

Category Manager - BPO, HR, People Services, Travel, Corporate Cards & Contingent Labour:

Reporting into the Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner - Indirect Services, the Category Manager - BPO, HR, People Services, Travel, Corporate Cards & Contingent Labour is accountable for developing and implementing strategic category strategies and driving and managing supply chain strategies that optimise cost and ensure quality & reliability of supply and leading all procurement activities. This role will have 7 direct reports.

As part of your application, please specify which role is of interest.

National Grid is leading the charge towards a Net Zero future in the UK and NE of USA. We recognize that decarbonizing our electric and gas systems will require resolving many questions and seeking new partnerships, technologies and transformative investments. Over the next 5 years, we will be investing over £60bn across our UK and US businesses - nearly double the investment over the past 5 years. This is an exciting time for our industry that is creating significant opportunities for National Grid; this is not just a moment in time; it's a game-changing era that will shape National Grid's success for decades to come.

Given this backdrop, our supply chains are facing an unprecedented set of challenges and are at the forefront of our plans, placing National Grid Procurement at the centre of our Net Zero goals. We have set out an ambitious transformation plan, focused on becoming a client of choice for our supply partners whilst ensuring outstanding outcomes for our Business Units (BUs). Our strategy revolves around significant changes in three core areas:

Partnering: We are forging closer ties with our supply chain, aligning ourselves more closely with each NG Group Business Unit (BU).

Scale: We are leveraging the immense scale of our group to unlock even greater potential. By harnessing our collective strength, we can achieve remarkable things.

Operational Transformation: We are revolutionizing the way we work as a team. Embracing new approaches and technologies, we are streamlining processes and making the day-to-day job simpler and more efficient.

What You'll Do

In addition to the development and implementation of robust category strategies, you will engage and drive strategic relationship with category critical suppliers, implement vendor and contract management strategies and ensure the supply chain is engaged and enabled to meet the business needs.

Leading a team of Buyers, Senior Buyers, Category Specialists and Category Leads, you will manage a major category area in line with National Grid's procurement strategy, ensuring realisation of synergies, like cost savings and risk reduction, and optimisation of the category profit.
• Support the Senior Business Partners to engage with the BU, and where appropriate directly support the strategic relationship with them to ensure their procurement and supply chain needs are delivered in line with business requirements.
• Support the development and delivery of a comprehensive suite of category strategies for the BU providing market capability and capacity intelligence, ensuring that maximum value is realised from the significant procurement spend, whilst securing supply, managing supply chain risks, and achieving sustainability objectives.
• Aligned to your category ownership, develop, and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuous improvement, security of supply and value delivery.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of procurement strategies and execution of the procurement priorities for the business unit. Providing strategic and commercial insight, supply chain sustainability insight, and supply chain risk and mitigation recommendations.
• Work across teams and sub-functions within Procurement to support overall category management effort (e.g., Sustainability, Supply Chain Risk & Transparency, Market Supplier Development, Supplier Engagement).
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the category, including supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and quality issues.

What You'll Have
• Previous procurement experience, delivering category excellence, commercial insight, and leverage. Track record of driving strategic change through category intelligence.
• Expertise across a range of strategic sourcing activities.
• Experience of broad, supply chain management.
• Ability to communicate dynamically as a manager of people and to senior leaders within National Grid and supplier organizations.
• Experience in managing high performing teams.
• Good understanding of broader business objectives and the implications of strategic planning and actions within the category.
• Expert influencing and negotiation skills to drive optimum value through the award of commercially sound contracts.
• Relationship management experience, driving commercial value and performance through contracts.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary.
• Annual performance bonus of up to 15% of your eligible earnings in the performance year
• Access to private medical insurance for you and your family
• A generous pension scheme - we double match your contribution up to 18%.
• 28 days, plus 8 statutory days plus the option to buy extra holidays
• Life insurance - 10 x annual salary
• Flexible benefits (National Grid Share Incentive Plan, Salary Sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity plus many more)
• Ongoing career development and support - Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions and time off for study leave - so long as it's relevant to your role.
• Access to a range of further benefits covering wellbeing, family care, charity involvement
• Company car

More Information

This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis

We are also offering hybrid /flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need. Base location for this role will be National Grid House in Warwick

It is anticipated that some international business travel may be required as part of this role

This role closes on Friday 23rd August 2024 however we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible. Applications will be actively reviewed and processed prior to the deadline.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.