Category & Sourcing Specialist

TN United Kingdom; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company as a Category & Sourcing Specialist, where you'll manage category spending and sourcing strategies to optimize costs. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary and numerous benefits, contributing to a greener future while supporting career progression.

Benefits

Generous pension up to 11% employer contribution

25 days annual leave

Life assurance (4x salary)

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Health Cash Plan

Fully funded eye tests

Two paid volunteering days annually

Occupational health services

Discounts with over 800 retailers

Digital GP service

Study support for relevant qualifications

Flexible maternity leave options

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Ability to manipulate complex datasets.
• Performance and delivery-oriented.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of category strategies.
• Gather customer requirements and specifications.
• Collect and analyze data on category spend.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Planning skills

Relationship management

Job description

Closing Date: 20 June 2025

Job Title: Category & Sourcing Specialist

Location: Durrington or Falmer, West Sussex (2-3 days a week)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: circa £35,000 (depending on skills and experience)

There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact, and reducing our carbon footprint! We currently have several openings for Category & Sourcing Specialists across disciplines including Engineering & Construction, Professional Services, and Operational Assets.

Job Overview

Southern Water’s Sourcing and Category Management discipline strategically and proactively manages category spending and supply sourcing in line with value management strategies and demand profiles to optimise total cost of ownership.

1. Work with the Category Manager to support the delivery of category strategies and develop/sub-category strategies.
2. Gather and collate customer requirements, volume demands, and specifications, providing feedback to inform category strategy development.
3. Collect data on category/sub-category spend, commodity pricing, and perform initial analysis for the Category Manager.
4. Develop relationships across the organisation to enable early procurement involvement in external third-party spend.

About You

• You will have the ability to manipulate complex datasets and develop compelling category and sourcing strategies.
• You are performance and delivery-oriented, capable of working with others to obtain critical information and achieve goals.
• You demonstrate a proactive, can-do attitude.
• You possess strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• You can develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Package

This role is full-time, Monday to Friday, with a hybrid approach between our Durrington office and home. We offer a salary of approximately £35,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, along with benefits including:

• Generous pension up to 11% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months)
• Health Cash Plan
• Fully funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days annually
• Occupational health services
• Discounts with over 800 retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support for relevant qualifications
• Flexible maternity leave and return options
• Cycle to work scheme

Join our Procurement team and explore career progression with a company committed to training, development, our customers, and the environment.

If you’re interested but unsure if you meet all requirements or need flexible hours, we encourage you to engage with us to find practical solutions.

If this role isn’t quite right but you wish to be contacted about future opportunities at Southern Water, please register your details here: Introduce Yourself.

Our customers are central to our mission to deliver water for life. To support this, we provide 24/7 incident support, and our team members participate in incident support rotas as discussed during interviews.

Privacy Note: Existing employees must confirm managerial awareness of their application. All applicants must be eligible to work in the UK and provide proof of eligibility and address as part of the recruitment process.

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