Senior Category Buyer

The Senior Category Buyer is responsible for strategic procurement operations within the aligned business area. The role will partner the Category Manager in delivery of Category strategies, working with the NG business units to share supply chain insight and recommendations, award Contracts from leading strategic sourcing events, leading commercial negotiations, drafting contract through to engaging and managing suppliers., Senior Category Buyer roles are accountable for high value, business critical goods and services, engaging at senior levels of the organisation to ensure delivery of business priorities.

We are recruiting for roles across the entire function across the following disciplines

Direct Category Management

Working to procure equipment and services such as transformers, steel structures, switchgear, cable, civils, vegetation management (and many others) in support of National Grid Business Units. The variety of roles available include roles within our UK and US business units, as well as roles that procure on behalf of the NG Group.

Indirect Category Management

Working to procure goods and services that are required to support day-to-day operations of the entire National Grid Group. This includes areas such as facilities management, fleet management, IT goods & services, corporate services, other professional services (and many others). These roles have a NG Group wide focus and therefore may be working in a team that operates in both the UK and US.

Please state your preference for whether you would be interested in a Direct or Indirect Category Management role as part of your application.

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

This role will engage and build strong working relationships with stakeholders across the business, within procurement, and externally, to develop commercial strategies, source and contract the goods and services required to meet the business needs.

You will:


• Accountable for the development of category strategies, commercial recommendations and execution of sourcing strategy. You will execute standardised strategic sourcing processes from market engagement through to award, ensuring goods / services are procured in a best-in-class manner that drives value.


• Deliver multiple strategic sourcing events within your portfolio, working with stakeholders to understand and challenge demand and ensure the best possible commercial solutions for National Grid.


• Support the overall development and delivery of assigned category strategy and share best practice across other category teams.


• Profile category characteristics and research supply markets, suppliers and assess trends, opportunities and risks feeding insights into the Global teams and Market and Supplier Development teams.


• Delivering value by effectively managing tender events for key products required by the business.


• Work with Contract Managers and / or Procurement Programme Managers to ensure the successful delivery of contracted activities, identifying continuous improvement category opportunities through engagement with suppliers and stakeholders, and maximizing value for money from contracts awarded.


• Role model excellence in procurement standards, taking a proactive role in mentoring / providing guidance to Buyers and Associate Buyers to ensure best-in-class methodologies are adopted and utilized across National Grid Procurement.


• Contribute to an effective forward planning process by identifying future requirements of supported areas and ensure robust forecasting is put in place that maximises value of goods / services procured.
  
  Degree or equivalent experience


• Significant experience of strategic sourcing and category management


• An understanding of project management principles and ideally evidence of managing multiple projects and consistently delivering outstanding results.


• Ability to prepare for and to lead negotiations.


• Ability to build and manage complex commercial assessment models.


• Experience of contract development, including the ability to make recommendations and amendments to existing contracts as well as drafting new ones.
  
  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.

A competitive salary between £46,415 - £58,760 - dependent on capability

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.