Category Manager - Industry Operations - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

OVO Energy; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy provider is seeking a skilled Category Manager for a 12-month fixed term contract based in Bristol. This role focuses on strategic procurement management, supplier relationship enhancement, and aligning with sustainability goals. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in procurement, excellent negotiation skills, and a commitment to ethical sourcing. This position offers a competitive salary along with a range of green benefits and progressive work policies.

Benefits

34 days of holiday

Healthcare cash plan

Gym membership

Discounts on energy plans

Flex pay of 9% of salary

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in procurement, supplier management or category management.
• Proven track record of delivering commercial benefits.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive category strategies for procurement.
• Manage supplier relationships and procurement processes.
• Align sourcing activities with sustainability goals.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation skills

Supplier relationship management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Commitment to sustainability

Education

CIPS qualification (desired)

Tools

Workday Strategic Sourcing

Job description

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Category Manager - Industry Operations - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract, Bristol

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Client:

OVO Energy

Location:

Bristol, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

6cbb7f1be883

Job Views:

4

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

Category Manager - Industry Operations - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Location: Hub based! London or Bristol

But you have the flexibility to work wherever suits you best

Team: Procurement and Supply

Experience: Manager

Working pattern: Full-Time (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Reporting to: Senior Category Manager

Sponsorship: Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

This role in 3 words: Driving, Relationships, Commercial

Top 3 qualities for this role: Influence, Self-Solving, Commercial

In the words of the team, you should leave your current role for this one because….

"OVO is a fantastic place to work. The company really cares for its people which makes you want to go the extra mile. There is a reason we won Times best place to work! The Procurement & Supplier Management team are on a really exciting journey and it's not every day you get the ability to actively participate in a Procurement transformation! OVO felt like home to me after just 2 weeks and I put that down to having such a great team around me"

Everyone belongs at OVO

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you’ll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here’s how:

As an enterprise business OVO’s supply chain presents large risk but great opportunity when it comes to sustainability and wider ESG initiatives. Procurement & Supply Management play a vital role when contributing to OVOs wider Plan Zero aspirations ensuring we’re working with the right partners and managing risks appropriately.

This role in a nutshell:

We’re hiring for an exceptional Category Manager to drive the strategic management of our Industry Operations procurement category. As a Category Manager, you’ll develop and execute category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and oversee procurement processes to deliver maximum value and mitigate risks. Your focus will align with OVO's Plan Zero ambitions, ensuring sustainable and ethical sourcing practices while achieving commercial success.

You’ll be reporting to the Senior Category Manager and will play a critical role in supporting change, delivering results, and setting the bar for ‘what good looks like’ across the team. Buying goods or services is an essential part of OVO’s business, enabling the delivery of a range of products to our customers, from marketing campaigns to smart meters and everything in between.

The Procurement Team’s objectives include:

• Driving significant commercial benefits to support OVO’s EBITDA targets.
• Getting the end to end contract lifecycle right, reducing risks, and driving compliance while maintaining agility.
• Procuring goods and services in a sustainable manner, aligning with OVO’s Plan Zero.
• Becoming a knowledge base of relevant supply markets, products, technologies, and trends.
• Managing supplier relationships through the contract lifetime, ensuring delivery expectations are met, and rectifying any issues
• Continuously improving commercial value, process efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Effectively partnering with internal stakeholders.
• Supporting the implementation of procurement systems that underpin opportunity execution while reducing risks and improving compliance.

Your key outcomes will be:

• Develop and implement robust category strategies to drive value and meet business goals.
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes for assigned categories, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers to secure favourable terms and cost savings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to drive collaboration and innovation.
• Conduct market analysis to identify risks, opportunities, and trends for assigned categories.
• Monitor supplier performance and oversee regular performance reviews.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align category objectives with organizational goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement activities.
• Support OVO’s sustainability goals through ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.

Additionally, you will:

• Use data to maintain a clear view of category spend and suppliers.
• Support category savings opportunity analysis and future pipeline initiatives.
• Execute RFx exercises, guiding stakeholders and ensuring strong project management practices.
• Lead material commercial initiatives, presenting to the C-suite in line with OVO’s authority matrix.
• Deliver effective Supplier Management strategies. In life contract management, reducing risk, scope creep, supplier performance and contract exit
• Ensure adherence to procurement & contract policies and monitor compliance.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement tools, processes, and customer journey management.
• Align sourcing activities with OVO’s Plan Zero objectives, demonstrating measurable contributions.

You’ll be a successful Category Manager at OVO if you…

• Are a strategic thinker with at least 3 years of experience in procurement, supplier management or category management.
• Have strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of delivering material commercial benefits.
• Excel in managing supplier relationships, driving performance, and fostering innovation.
• Are analytical, capable of sourcing and interpreting data to inform decisions.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and ethical procurement practices.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities efficiently.
• Are a team player, working collaboratively with a pragmatic approach.
• Have or are working towards a CIPS qualification (desirable).
• Show an understanding of procurement systems (e.g., Workday Strategic Sourcing).
• Bring experience in sourcing across key subcategories, with exposure to the energy sector being a plus.

You won’t like this role if you…

• Are uncomfortable leading on initiatives with high corporate exposure (c-suite)
• Are unable to effectively and reasonably challenge the status quo
• Are uncomfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback (radical candor)
• Do not possess strong technical understanding of Procurement best practice
• Are unable to work effectively across a wider team and influence multiple stakeholders constructively
• Do not possess strong commercial acumen and an eye for a deal
• Are unable to effectively sell and promote the benefits of Procurement to your colleagues and peers

Let’s talk about what’s in it for you

We’ll pay you between £43,000 - £59,000, depending on your specific skills and experience. If your expectations are a little different, have a chat with us!

We keep our pay ranges broad on purpose to give us, and you, flexibility to match your experience to our zero carbon mission.

You’ll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15%. We have one OVO bonus plan that focuses on the collective performance of our people to deliver our Plan Zero goal.

We also offer plenty of green benefits and progressive policies to help you feel like you belong at OVO…and there’s flex pay. It’s an extra 9% of your salary on top of your core pay to use as you like. You can take it as cash, add to your pension, or choose to spend it on a huge range of flex benefits.

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer:

For starters, you’ll get 34 days of holiday (including bank holidays).

For your healthWith benefits like a healthcare cash plan or private medical insurance depending on your career level, critical illness cover, life assurance, health assessments, and more
For your wellbeingWith gym membership, gadget, travel and cyber insurance, workplace ISA, will writing services, DNA testing, dental insurance, and more For your lifestyle With extra holiday buying, discount dining, culture cards, tech loans, and supporting your favorite charities with give-as-you-earn donations

For your home Get up to £300 off any OVO Energy plan (when you pay by Direct Debit), plus personal carbon offsetting and great discounts on smart thermostats and EV chargers (available after passing of probationary period)
For your commute Nab a great deal on ultra-low emission car leasing, plus our cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans

Want to hear about our full range of flexible benefits and progressive people policies? Our People Team can tell you everything you need to know.

For your Belonging

To find better ways to support our people, we need to listen to each other’s experiences and find ways to build a truly inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of this, we have 8 Belonging Networks at OVO. Led by our people, for our people - so when you join OVO, you can play a part - big or small - with any of the Networks. It's up to you.