Category & Sourcing Manager - HR

Southern Water; Falmer; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility provider in the UK is seeking a Category & Sourcing Manager to join their Procurement team. This role focuses on HR-related spend categories, including recruitment services and benefits. Responsibilities include shaping category strategies and managing a pipeline of projects while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations. Ideal candidates should possess strong HR category management experience and an understanding of public procurement. This position offers flexible working arrangements and a competitive salary.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Meaningful impact on water services

Qualifications

• Strong HR category management experience.
• Experience running end‑to‑end tenders and managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Understanding of public procurement regulations and confidence in applying them.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering HR category strategies.
• Leading tenders and sourcing activity across HR spend areas.
• Managing procurement for corporate services.

Skills

Strong HR category management experience

End-to-end tender management

Understanding of public procurement regulations

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Ability to work autonomously

Education

CIPS qualification (or working towards it)

Job description

Closing Date: 2026-01-22

Job Title: Category & Sourcing Manager (HR & Corporate Services)

Location: Durrington (Worthing)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time (Hybrid – 2 days in office), flexible working will be considered

Salary: £55,000

About the role

You will join our Procurement team, focusing on HR and People-related spend categories. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a broad and strategically important portfolio, covering recruitment services, benefits, occupational health, salary sacrifice schemes, subscriptions, and other HR-aligned third‑party spend.

This role has opened up due to an increase in workload.

What you will be responsible for

You will play a key role in shaping category strategies, advising senior stakeholders, and ensuring our HR procurement activity aligns with regulatory requirements, business needs, and market best practice. Typically, you will manage a varied pipeline of 4–5 concurrent projects, ranging from one‑off tenders to longer‑term strategic sourcing initiatives.

• Developing and delivering HR category strategies, including market analysis, sourcing options, and long‑term planning.
• Leading tenders and sourcing activity across HR spend areas such as recruitment, benefits, occupational health, and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Managing procurement for corporate services including legal support, consultancy, and other enabling activities.
• Ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations (including PA23) and internal governance.
• Driving value creation, cost optimisation, and commercial insight across the full sourcing lifecycle.
• Providing strategic advice to HR and senior leadership teams, helping them make informed commercial decisions.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including HR, Finance, Legal, Digital, and external partners.
• Supporting the development of category strategies across the wider procurement function.
• Managing stakeholder expectations at all levels, including director‑level engagement.

What you’ll bring to the role

Essential

• Strong HR category management experience
• Experience running end‑to‑end tenders and managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Understanding of public procurement regulations and confidence in applying them.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to analyse markets, challenge assumptions, and propose well‑reasoned solutions.
• Ability to build strong relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, reactive environment while keeping long‑term goals in sight.
• Ability to work autonomously and bring expertise to the team.

Desirable

• CIPS qualification (or working towards it).
• Experience in utilities or engineering.
• Experience working in a regulated industry.

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8 bn planned investment for 2025–30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long‑term value creation.

Inclusive & Empowering

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.