Head of Category Workforce & Services

About us

At National Grid, we deliver safe, reliable energy that powers communities and supports economic wellbeing. As one of the world’s largest investor‑owned energy companies, we’re investing in the infrastructure needed for a cleaner future — upgrading transmission lines, substations and distribution networks to enable renewable generation and strengthen reliability. Our people drive this work, and we’re proud of the impact we make for customers, communities and investors.

About the Role

Reporting into the VP Procurement - Group IT & Indirects , the Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner – Workforce & Services is accountable for a suite of dedicated multi-million (£/$) categories (e.g., BPO, Contingent Labor, HR Services, Consulting, Legal, Audit, Technical Engineering Services, Customer Programs, Marketing, Travel) which includes end to end ownership of strategy, market insights and risk management, strategic souring through to contract management. This is combined with their role acting as a strategic business partner where they will engage and drive the senior level relationship and desired Business Unit (BU) / Function procurement outputs.  

As a Business Partner, you act as the procurement interface, supporting the Strategic Business Partner engagement with BU/Function Executives and their Senior Leadership Team. Through this, you will work with the Executives to align Procurement activities with operating priorities, influence behaviors and deliver leading financial and performance objectives.

What You'll Do

The Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner – Workforce & Services is responsible for coordinating across the relevant Procurement teams to ensure they can provide BU/Function updates, insight and recommendations as required. You will engage and drive strategic relationship with category critical suppliers, implement vendor and contract management strategies and ensure the supply chain is engaged and enabled to meet the business needs. 

Working effectively across the internal procurement teams to build deep category expertise in supply chain, risk identification and mitigation, sustainability and diversity strategies whilst ensuring compliance and benefit delivery. As part of the Procurement leadership team, you will be integral to the continued development of the procurement function, being  accountable for recruiting, retaining, building capability and leading a high performing procurement team. 

• Work alongside, support and compliment the Strategic Business Partner to engage with the Business Unit/ Function, and where appropriate directly lead the strategic relationship with the BU/Function, to ensure their procurement and supply chain needs are delivered in line with business requirements.  
• Develop and lead a comprehensive suite of category strategies for the Business Unit / Function providing market capability and capacity intelligence, ensuring that maximum value is realized from the significant procurement spend, whilst securing supply, managing supply chain risks, and achieving sustainability objectives.  
• Aligned to your category ownership, develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuous improvement, security of supply and value delivery.
• Accountable for the development and implementation of procurement strategies and execution of the procurement priorities for the business unit. Providing strategic and commercial insight, supply chain sustainability insight, and supply chain risk and mitigation recommendations.  
• Ensure rigorous management of contracts throughout their lifecycle (incl. implementing corrective actions when necessary) leaning on support from dedicated contract management resource pools if relevant.
• Work across teams and sub-functions within Procurement to support overall category management effort (e.g., Sustainability, SC Risk & Transparency, MSD, SE)   
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the category, including supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and quality issues.
• Lead a highly motivated, innovative and value-focused team of 4, developing talent and a performance management culture that drives value through employee engagement which successfully meets or exceeds all strategic objectives for the area

What You'll Need

• Previous procurement experience in a multi-country environment, delivering category excellence, apply appropriate levers across multiple category areas.
• Experience of broad, supply chain management in complex, global enterprise environments.  
• Ability to communicate dynamically at all levels within National Grid and externally to senior leaders within supplier organizations.
• Experience in building high performing teams.
• Track record of driving strategic change through category intelligence.
• Good understanding of broader business objectives and the implications of strategic planning and actions within the category on the regional/global businesses.
• Expert influencing and negotiation skills to drive optimum value through the award of commercially sound contracts.
• Relationship management experience, driving commercial value and performance through major contracts.
• The appetite to learn the utilities and contract regulations UCR and the 2025 Procurement Act

More Information

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