Senior Category Manager

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

Job summary

A leading water and wastewater company is seeking a Digital Senior Category Manager to oversee commercial strategies for Cybersecurity and Networks. The role involves managing supplier relationships, ensuring compliance, and delivering value through effective category management. The position is hybrid, based in Reading, and offers a competitive salary along with various perks.

Benefits

26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 with service

Car Allowance: £5,800

Annual Bonus

Private Medical Healthcare

Contributory pension (up to 12%)

Annual Personal Medical Assessments

Access to benefits hub for discounts and wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Experience managing categories valued up to £100m.
• Experience in a digital commercial role, understanding key Digital Commercial Models.

Responsibilities

• Support Information Security and Networks Suppliers with commercial requirements.
• Manage a portfolio of suppliers to improve contracted expectations.
• Lead and manage end-to-end category strategies.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Project Management

Negotiation

Category Management

Market Insight

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.
• Produce category plans to support pipeline planning and ongoing commercial strategy.
• Manage a portfolio of suppliers to ensure contracted expectations are continuously improved and support these suppliers in delivering additional value to Thames Water.
• Lead, develop, and manage end-to-end category strategies for the short, medium, and long term, identifying initiatives to maximise value and outcomes while balancing risks.
• Provide extensive category knowledge and supply market insight to internal stakeholders, delivering strategies and sourcing events, supporting SME activities, and managing category risks.
• Become 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 influencing senior stakeholders to embed best practice commercial governance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, ensuring effective prioritisation.
• Experience in a digital commercial role, understanding key Digital Commercial Models, including Software and Project Delivery.
• Detailed knowledge of the external supply market, including suppliers, trends, innovation, and market dynamics.
• Strong engagement skills to support, influence, and challenge stakeholders for optimal outcomes.
• Understanding of Category Management principles with a proven track record across various categories.
• Ability to provide insights on supply market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, suppliers, and innovations.
• Experience managing categories valued up to £100m with strategic risks.
• Negotiation experience on commercial and contractual matters, with judgment on acceptable risks and resilience.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 with service, plus bank holidays
• Car Allowance: £5,800
• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Healthcare
• Contributory pension (up to 12%) with 2x employee contribution
• Annual Personal Medical Assessments
• Access to benefits hub for discounts and wellbeing support

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, supporting our customers, communities, people, and the planet. We seek passionate, skilled individuals committed to making a difference.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water offers a rewarding, diverse workplace with career growth, flexible working, and excellent benefits. Join us if you’re passionate about making a difference and protecting water resources for future generations.

We value diversity and inclusivity, supporting applications from everyone and offering assistance throughout the recruitment process. We also provide opportunities to support our customers on the frontline, with full training provided.

Disclaimer: Applications may close early due to high volume. Apply promptly to avoid missing out.