Category Buyer / Senior Category Buyer Leads

National Grid plc; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus based on performance

Pension scheme with company match up

Share incentive plan

Flexible benefits

Salary sacrifice schemes

Job summary

National Grid plc is seeking Category Buyer leads to drive strategic sourcing and category management across major capital projects in the ETSI Procurement team. The roles are hybrid, with a base office in Warwick, balancing office and home working.

You will partner with stakeholders to shape demand, run procurement events, and build strong supplier partnerships to deliver value and support the net-zero agenda.

Qualifications

• Experience leading development and delivery of category strategies within engineering, infrastructure, utilities or construction environments.
• Proven ability to manage procurement activity across large scale projects and programmes.
• Ability to develop and implement complex commercial models; NEC4 knowledge is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple complex construction strategic sourcing events from market engagement through to contract award, values range from anywhere £1m to into the £bns.
• Partner with stakeholders to understand business requirements, shape demand and develop commercially robust procurement solutions.
• Lead the development and delivery of category management that aligns with business priorities within your category area & scale this across the portfolio.
• Analyse supply markets to identify emerging trends, opportunities, risks and innovation.
• Collaborate with teams to define procurement strategy and go-to-market approach for frontloading with supply chain and internal teams.
• Support supplier relationship activities to build strategic partnerships driving innovation, resilience and long-term value.
• Contribute to forward planning and forecasting to support future business requirements.
• Share best practice and provide guidance to drive procurement excellence.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Project management

Analytical skills

Sourcing activities

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Education

MCIPS preferred

Tools

NEC4 knowledge (desirable)

Job description

Category Buyer / Senior Category Buyer Leads

About the role

Help build the infrastructure that will power Britain's future.

At National Grid, we're at the heart of the energy transition. As we invest in critical infrastructure and deliver projects that support a cleaner, greener future, our Procurement team plays a vital role in ensuring we secure the right partners, services and solutions to deliver for millions of customers.

We're looking for multiple ambitious and commercially minded Category Buyer and Senior Category Leads to join our Electricity Transmission & Strategic Infrastructure (ETSI) Procurement team, where you'll play a critical role in bringing major infrastructure projects to market and securing the supply chain partnerships that will help deliver our net zero ambitions.

We are currently launching our new ETSI Procurement Operating model which brings significant opportunity to help shape this and be part of something from the ground up.

We firmly believe that we are uniquely placed at the intersection of ETSI significant capital programme and the external supply market, which is why we are taking deliberate action to operate seamlessly across three core capabilities:

1. Pipeline – Shifting Procurement more upstream into early development of the capital plan and our ability to influence and shape
2. Category and Supplier Management – Deepening our category expertise and supplier relationships
3. Execution – Partnering with the business unit to shape and execute its capital plans

As a Category / Senior Category Buyer Lead, you'll be responsible for Category management activities within ETSI for a suite of categories/suppliers or you will be partnering with our delivery colleagues on developing procurement strategies and then delivering strategic sourcing events that drive value, support project delivery and strengthen supplier partnerships.

The roles are hybrid with our base office in Warwick, we'd expect to see you take a balanced approach to office/work locations and home.

What you'll do

• Lead multiple complex construction strategic sourcing events from market engagement through to contract award, values range from anywhere £1m to into the £bns
• Partner with stakeholders to understand business requirements, shape demand and develop commercially robust procurement solutions.
• Lead the development and delivery of category management that aligns with business priorities within your category area & scale this across the portfolio and embed into the delivery of key programmes within the BU
• Analyse supply markets to identify emerging trends, opportunities, risks and innovation that can improve procurement and business unit outcomes.
• Collaborate with relevant teams and counterparts to define the procurement strategy including delivery model, commercial construct and go-to-market approach in order to frontload preparations with the supply chain and internal teams
• Support supplier relationship activities, helping to build strategic partnerships that drive innovation, resilience and long-term value as well as supporting our Group wide Executive Supplier Engagement Programme.
• Contribute to forward planning and forecasting activities, ensuring procurement strategies support future business requirements.
• Share best practice and provide guidance to colleagues, helping to drive procurement excellence across the wider team.

What you'll need

We're looking for procurement professionals who thrive in complex environments and are passionate about delivering commercial outcomes that make a lasting impact.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience leading the development and delivery of category strategies management ideally within engineering, infrastructure, utilities or construction environments however this is not essential.
• Proven ability to manage procurement activity across large scale projects and programmes
• Ability to develop and implement complex commercial models and a strong understanding of NEC4 Contract forms (A, C, E) would be desirable but not essential as we can teach you this.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels.
• A high level of commercial acumen and strong negotiation skills, with a proven ability to identify opportunities that deliver measurable value.
• The ability to analyse commercial data, identify risks and opportunities, and provide meaningful insights to support business decisions.
• Strong project management, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage sourcing activities simultaneously. Including ownership of programme plans, operating in a matrix team and risk to ensure on-time contract award across the portfolio
• A proactive approach to problem solving and the ability to navigate complex organisations effectively.
• A continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to challenge traditional approaches to deliver better outcomes.
• A genuine passion for sustainability and helping enable an affordable net zero future.
• MCIPS qualified or working towards qualification is preferred.

#LI-HA1 #LI-HYBRID

What you'll get

For the Category Buyer role - competitive salary between £44,749.00 - £53,073.00 per annum- dependent on capability.

Senior Category Lead - competitive salary between £50,600.00 - £59,635.50 per annum - dependant 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 9th November 2026 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

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.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.