Senior Category Manager

idibu; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the water sector is seeking a Digital Senior Category Manager in Reading. This hybrid role involves managing commercial strategies for cybersecurity and networks, ensuring compliance, and delivering value through supplier management. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation skills and extensive market knowledge, driving optimal commercial outcomes.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual Leave - 26 days, increasing to 30 with service

Car Allowance - £5,800

Annual Bonus

Private Medical Healthcare

Contributory pension – up to 12%

Annual Personal Medical Assessments

Wider benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing categories valued up to £100m.
• Proven negotiation skills and judgment in contractual matters.

Responsibilities

• Supporting suppliers with commercial requirements.
• Managing a portfolio of suppliers for value delivery.
• Leading and developing category strategies.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Commercial Governance

Negotiation

Market Insight

Education

Category Management

Job description

As a Digital Senior Category Manager, you should be a commercial expert for the category that you lead. You should be able to utilise this market expertise to develop and deliver strategies, ensuring that Thames is market-leading in their commercial arrangements. This role will support all commercial activity for Cybersecurity and Networks, supporting the delivery of major projects for Digital Turnaround initiatives.

Thames is planning for a future where our technology solutions enable us to achieve our goal of protecting our greatest natural resource and allow our customers, communities, and the environment to thrive.

What you’ll be doing as a Digital Senior Category Manager

• Supporting Information Security, Networks, and Telecoms Suppliers with all commercial requirements, including project delivery contracts, software renewals, and new software sourcing activities.
• Working with stakeholders to provide commercial advice and ensure commercial compliance is embedded across the category.
• Producing category plans to support pipeline planning and ongoing commercial strategy.
• Managing a portfolio of suppliers to ensure contracted expectations are continuously improved and to support these suppliers in delivering additional value to Thames Water.
• Leading, developing, and managing end-to-end category strategies for the short, medium, and long term. Identifying initiatives to maximize value and outcomes, balancing commercial risk and opportunities.
• Providing extensive category knowledge and supply market insight to internal stakeholders. Delivering category strategies and sourcing events, supporting SMEs, and managing risks.
• Becoming the commercial expert for the category to enable Thames to adapt quickly to market changes.

Base Location: Reading - Hybrid.

Working Pattern or hours: 36 Hours.

What you should bring to the role

• Experience in influencing senior stakeholders and embedding best practice commercial governance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects within the category, ensuring effective prioritization.
• Experience in a digital commercial role, understanding key Digital Commercial Models, including for Software and Project Delivery.
• Detailed knowledge of the external supply market, including suppliers, trends, innovation, and dynamics.
• Strong engagement skills to support, influence, and challenge stakeholders for optimal commercial outcomes.
• A clear understanding of Category Management principles with a proven track record of results across various categories.
• Ability to provide insights on supply market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, suppliers, and innovations.
• Capability to identify market insights, trends, opportunities, and risks.
• Experience managing categories valued up to £100m with significant strategic risks.
• Proven negotiation skills and judgment in contractual matters, assessing acceptable risks and resilience.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• Annual Leave - 26 days, increasing to 30 with service, plus bank holidays
• Car Allowance - £5,800
• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Healthcare
• Contributory pension – up to 12%
• Annual Personal Medical Assessments
• Wider benefits scheme

Find out more about our benefits and perks.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving over 16 million customers daily. We aim to build a better future for all, supporting our customers, communities, people, and the planet. Join us to make a difference and help us reach our goals.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water offers a rewarding, diverse environment where you can make a difference daily. We provide career growth, flexible working, and excellent benefits. Whether in call centres or labs, we're looking for passionate individuals committed to improvement.

If you seek a sustainable career impacting millions and protecting water resources, join us. We support you every step, building a better future together.

Our aim is to be a diverse, inclusive workplace. We welcome all applications and support candidates throughout recruitment. We also offer opportunities to support customers directly, with full training provided.

Disclaimer: Due to high application volume, we may close the advert early. Apply promptly to avoid missing out.