Associate Buyer

National Grid; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension scheme with 12% match

Share incentive plan

Flexible benefits

Job summary

National Grid is seeking an Associate Category Buyer to join our Procurement team in the UK. The role supports category strategies, sourcing events, and collaboration with stakeholders to secure goods and services for the business.

You'll gain experience across strategic sourcing, tender activities, and contract management in a hybrid role based in the Midlands area.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic sourcing and category management.
• Understanding of procurement processes and commercial principles.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to analyse information and make informed recommendations.
• Collaborative approach with a focus on value and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing multiple priorities or projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the delivery of multiple strategic sourcing events across the portfolio.
• Working with stakeholders to understand requirements and identify best solutions.
• Conducting market and supplier research to inform category strategies.
• Delivering sourcing and tender activities from market engagement to award.
• Managing sourcing events independently, ensuring value for money and compliance.
• Collaborating with Contract Managers to maximise contract value and improvements.
• Supporting forward planning and demand forecasting for future requirements.
• Assisting in developing regional contractual agreements.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Stakeholder management

Procurement processes

Project management

Organisational skills

Job description

About the role

At National Grid, we're at the heart of the energy transition. Every day, we work to connect people to the energy they need, while building a cleaner, fairer and more resilient energy system for the future.

Our Procurement team plays a critical role in delivering value across the business, ensuring we partner with the right suppliers to support the essential infrastructure that keeps Great Britain connected.

We're looking for an Associate Category Buyer to join our Procurement team and help deliver strategic sourcing activities that drive value, innovation and supply chain excellence.

As an Associate Category Buyer, you'll support the delivery of category strategies and strategic sourcing activities across a diverse portfolio of spend areas. Working closely with Category Managers, Senior Category Buyers and business stakeholders, you'll play a key role in helping National Grid secure the goods and services needed to deliver our ambitions.

You'll have the opportunity to manage sourcing events from initial market engagement through to contract award, while developing your commercial, procurement and stakeholder management skills in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.

The role is a hybrid role so there is an expectation to be in the office based in warwick or Castle Donington (whichever is nearest to your location) upto twice a week as well as working from home.

What you'll do

• Supporting the delivery of multiple strategic sourcing events across your portfolio.


• Working with stakeholders to understand requirements, challenge demand and identify the best solutions for the business.


• Conducting market and supplier research to identify trends, risks and opportunities that inform category strategies.


• Delivering sourcing and tender activities from market engagement through to contract award.


• Managing a range of sourcing events independently, ensuring value for money and compliance with procurement best practice.


• Collaborating with Contract Managers and Procurement Programme Managers to maximise contract value and identify continuous improvement opportunities.


• Supporting forward planning and demand forecasting activities to ensure future business requirements are effectively managed.


• Assisting in the development and implementation of regional contractual agreements that meet business needs.

What you'll need

We're looking for someone who is commercially minded, proactive and eager to develop their procurement career.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience of strategic sourcing and category management.


• An understanding of procurement processes and commercial principles.


• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.


• The ability to analyse information and make informed recommendations.


• A collaborative approach with a passion for delivering value and continuous improvement.


• An understanding of project management principles, with experience managing multiple priorities or projects and delivering successful outcomes.


• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £40,706.00 - £44,297.50 per annum 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.

More Information

This role closes on 8th October 2025 at 23:59.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates - we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.