Senior Category Buyer

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Category Buyer to join the Group Directs Team on a Full Time, Permanent basis!

The Senior Category Buyer is responsible for strategic procurement operations within the Overhead Line (OHL) Equipment Team. The role will partner with 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 contracts through to engaging and managing suppliers.

The OHL Equipment Senior Category Buyer role is accountable for high value, business critical goods, engaging at senior levels of the organization to ensure delivery of business priorities. We are recruiting for the OHL Equipment role across the following disciplines:

Direct Category Management – OHL Equipment

Working to procure equipment such as conductor, insulators, fixtures and fittings in support of National Grid Business Units. This role supports National Grid’s entire footprint across UK and US business units.

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 center 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.
• Accountable for the development of category strategies, commercial recommendations and execution of sourcing strategy. You will for allocated category and execute standardized 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 Program 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 maximizes value of goods / services procured.

What You'll Need

• 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.

About Us

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.

What You'll Get

More Info

This role closes on 13th August, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wit until the published closing date as this can vary.

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.