Senior Category Lead

**About the Role**:
**Are you a Procurement professional with direct Services and/or Goods experience?**

**Do you want to join our expanding Procurement team and play a key role in the transition to net zero?**

**Join us as we transform our energy industry**

**Life at National Grid**:
National Grid will be investing over £40bn across our UK and US businesses and our procurement teams will play a significant role in supporting the investment, providing transformational solutions to achieve net zero. And that’s why we’re expanding our team globally with 90 additional roles.

We’re currently a team of over 300 talented professionals that cover a diverse range of categories from Indirect, IT & Digital, Network Operations (Maintenance & Repair) to 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.

We embrace flexibility and empower our team to shape their own success with our dynamic hybrid working environment and realise that to be successful we must invest in our people and capabilities.

**What You'll Do**:
Working as part of our National Grid Electricity Distribution team and reporting into a Category Manager (based at East Midlands Airport Offices - Castle Donington), you will support our National Grid Electricity Distribution & Transmission businesses.

Working on high profile Services/Equipment contracts, you’ll be empowered to bring to life our category strategies through the delivery of tenders and initiatives that will ensure that your stakeholders across the UK have the goods and services they need to accelerate the £50bn of investment to upgrade of our networks to meet future energy needs in a decarbonised world.

**Value-Driven Strategic Sourcing** - Lead multiple sourcing events within the category portfolio and ensure the delivery of high-value and complex tenders.
**Category Management** - Play a pivotal role in developing and delivering a category strategy; taking the lead on identifying and executing value initiatives ensuring optimal solutions for National Grid.
**Supplier management and Collaboration** - Foster and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and collaborate with stakeholders building partnerships that encourage innovation and drive value.
**Procurement Adviso**r - Set the standards for procurement excellence and actively coach and guide other Category Leads (Buyers) and Assistants within the team.

**What We're Looking For**:
We’re looking for people who can demonstrate creativity and commercial acumen whilst identifying opportunities to drive value and deliver our net zero ambition, and a passion to grow yourself and our business.

Someone who;
- Can effectively communicate, engage, and form dynamic teams with internal stakeholders and external partners building strong working relationships.
- Has significant experience in leading the development and execution of category strategies and management of tendering events.
- Can collate and organise data, analyse commercial issues and bring insight to the detail of costs and contracts.
- Can scope, deliver, and execute robust fit for purpose contractual agreements.
- Achievement of a CIPS qualification or working towards is advantageous, but not essential.
- Brings prior experience from roles such as Senior Category Lead or Senior Buyer,
- Experience of the renewables, rail, road or other utility industries, including Oil and Gas is advantageous, but not essential.

**What You'll Get**:
A competitive salary of £44,100 - £59,850 per annum dependent on capability and experience.
- A competitive salary (reviewed annually) dependent on capability and experience.
- Annual performance incentive
- Access to private medical insurance for you and your family
- A generous pension scheme - we double match your contribution up to 12%.
- 26 days’ annual leave plus the option to buy/sell up to 5 days per year.
- 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

**Further Information**:

- This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis
- We are also offering hybrid working in which we envisage you will spend on average 2 days a week at a National Grid office, connecting with your customers and teams - with the remainder from home.

**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’