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Category Manager – ProcurementHybrid – Central Reading
About the Role
Our client, a leading utilities company, is on an exciting procurement journey and is looking for talented Category Managers who can challenge, engage, influence, and drive change within an ever-evolving market. This is an opportunity to bring a fresh approach and a curious mindset to a dynamic team.
As a Category Manager, you will be a commercial expert within your assigned category, leveraging market knowledge to develop and implement strategies that ensure best-in-class commercial arrangements. Your work will play a key role in supporting the essential services provided to millions of customers every day.
Key Responsibilities
- Play a crucial role in the Procurement and Supplier Management team, embedding a strategic and innovative Category Management approach across the organisation.
- Manage a portfolio of suppliers, ensuring continuous improvement throughout the contract lifecycle while identifying opportunities for added value.
- Lead, develop, and manage end-to-end category plans for the short, medium, and long term, balancing commercial risk and value opportunities.
- Provide extensive category knowledge and market insight to internal stakeholders, delivering category plans and sourcing events while managing category-level risk.
- Act as the commercial expert for the category, ensuring the organisation remains agile and responsive to market changes.
What You’ll Bring
- A deep understanding of stakeholder and corporate needs in the short, medium, and long term.
- Strong knowledge of the external supply market, including suppliers, trends, innovation, and market dynamics, to identify new sources of value.
- Excellent engagement skills to support, influence, and constructively challenge stakeholders to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.
- A strong track record in Category Management, demonstrating the ability to build supplier and stakeholder relationships while delivering results.
- The ability to provide market insights, identify risks and opportunities, and drive commercial success.
- Experience negotiating with suppliers on contractual and commercial matters, applying sound judgment on contractual risk and supply resilience.
What’s in it for You?
This role offers a competitive salary package, including an excellent contributory pension, 26 days of annual leave (increasing to 30 with service), and a range of additional benefits designed to support well-being and financial security.
As a major player in the utilities sector, our client takes pride in delivering essential services to communities. They value diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and providing additional support to those who need it during the recruitment process.
There is also an opportunity to participate in initiatives that support customers and communities, gaining valuable experience and insights into the wider business while earning additional income.
If you're ready to take on an exciting challenge and make a real impact in the utilities industry, our client would love to hear from you.
