Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations)

Southern Water; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water service provider in Worthing is seeking an experienced Category Manager. The role includes strategic management of category spending and sourcing while engaging with internal customers to optimize cost. Candidates should have strategic category management experience, especially in the public sector, strong stakeholder management skills, and a proactive approach. Offering a salary of £55,000 per annum along with numerous benefits and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Generous pension up to 11%

25 days annual leave

Life assurance equal to 4x salary

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Health Cash Plan

Fully funded eye tests

Paid volunteering days

Occupational health service

Retail discounts

Digital GP service

Study support for job-related qualifications

Flexible return to work options

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a strategic Category Manager role.
• Understanding of public sector regulations.
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale projects.
• Knowledge of UCR and ABC legislation.
• Proven stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement demand and category strategies.
• Engage with internal customers for requirements and specifications.
• Support commercial activities to achieve value creation.
• Drive cost reduction through standardization and aggregation.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Planning skills

Organisational skills

Problem-solving skills

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

CIPS qualification or equivalent

Job description

This is an exciting time to join Southern Water's procurement department, with new investment and large scale plans, both in the Procurement Division as well as company wide; this is a great opportunity for an experienced Category Manager to get their 'teeth stuck into' this role. You will strategically and proactively manage category spending and supply sourcing in alignment with value management strategies and demand profiles to optimise total cost of ownership.

Day To Day You Will:

• Develop and implement specific demand and category strategies
• Engage with internal customers to understand requirements, volume demands, and specifications
• Support on all associated commercial activity to achieve value creation and minimise total cost of ownership, including executing the full sourcing lifecycle
• Deliver against procurement and value management strategies
• Work with Senior Category Manager as well as business leads to deliver category specific strategies, including sourcing and contracting
• Drive cost reduction through standardisation, aggregation of demand, and actions to minimise tail spend
• Drive continuous improvement translating external best practices, innovation, and ideas into actionable proposals and plans for the business, building them into category strategies

To be right for this role, you will have experience working in a strategic Category Manager role, with experience of working in the public sector (past or present, ideally with a good understanding of the regulations affecting public spend. You will be able to 'hit the ground running' with established experience, stakeholder management skills, written and verbal communication ability, and able to present confidently.

The following skills and experience are required:

• Analytical, planning and negotiation skills
• Experience of working multiple large-scale projects
• In depth Category experience, ideally in engineering, construction or asset purchase & hire
• Knowledge of UCR and ABC legislation
• Ability to demonstrate a proactive/can do style of work
• Continuous improvement mind-set
• Commercial awareness and excellent analytical, planning, organisational, and problem-solving skills

It Would Be Great If You Also Have:

• Knowledge of the Public Procurement Act or a CIPS qualification

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process.

This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Durrington (Worthing) office and home (office days are Tuesday/ Wednesday).

We are offering a salary of £55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme

Join our Procurement team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment. If you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role, or if you're concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances, we'll try to find a practical solution.