Category Lead

About the Role

Due to a recent merger, National Grid is seeking a Lead Category Buyer within our new Generation Business Unit.  This role reports to the Head of Procurement and Procurement Business Partner for National Grid Ventures.  The Lead CategoryBuyer – Gas Turbines & Generation is responsible for developing and executing procurement and supply chain strategies for gas turbines, balance of plant equipment, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), outage services, and major generation packages across National Grid Ventures' portfolio.

The role is accountable for securing market-leading commercial outcomes while ensuring reliability of supply, strategic supplier engagement, risk mitigation, and long-term value creation across new-build, repowering, life extension, and operational generation assets.

In addition to category leadership responsibilities, the role acts as a strategic procurement business partner to the Generation Business Unit, supporting capital projects and operational assets by providing market intelligence, procurement expertise, supply chain insights, and commercial recommendations.

The successful candidate will develop and manage strategic relationships with key generation suppliers and OEMs, lead complex sourcing and negotiation activities, and ensure the supply chain is positioned to support critical project milestones, plant availability objectives, and long-term operational requirements.

As a Category Buyer Lead, the role will deliver category strategies aligned to National Grid's procurement objectives, driving cost optimization, risk reduction, supply security, and supplier performance across a highly strategic and technically complex category.

This is a hybrid role and can be located in any of our service areas including MA, NY or TX.

What You'll Do

•    Support VP and Director-level Procurement Business Partners in developing strategic relationships with Generation Business Unit stakeholders, ensuring procurement and supply chain requirements are aligned with business and project objectives.
•    Develop and implement category strategies covering gas turbines, generators, major plant equipment, long-term service agreements, outage services, plant maintenance, and related generation technologies.
•    Lead high-value procurement events for major generation projects, including repowering projects, peaking facilities, and lifecycle maintenance programs.
•    Provide market intelligence on OEM capacity, manufacturing slot availability, technology developments, pricing trends, supply chain constraints, and supplier investment strategies.
•    Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with key OEMs and suppliers including gas turbine manufacturers, service providers, and strategic equipment suppliers.
•    Lead complex commercial negotiations, including equipment supply agreements, framework agreements, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), outage contracts, and strategic partnerships.
•    Identify, assess, and mitigate key risks associated with generation supply chains, including manufacturing lead times, capacity constraints, inflationary pressures, geopolitical risks, and technology obsolescence.
•    Work closely with Engineering, Asset Management, Operations, Project Delivery, and Commercial teams to develop procurement strategies that support project schedules, operational performance, and investment objectives.
•    Drive supplier performance through structured contract and vendor management processes, focusing on safety, quality, delivery performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
•    Support decarbonization and sustainability objectives by evaluating emerging generation technologies, alternative fuels, supply chain sustainability initiatives, and carbon reduction opportunities.
•    Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing category team, fostering a culture of commercial excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Need

•    Significant procurement and category management experience within power generation, energy infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, or related capital-intensive sectors.
•    Deep understanding of gas turbine technologies, generation asset supply chains, and major equipment procurement strategies.
•    Experience managing commercial engagements with major OEMs such as Siemens Energy, GE Vernova, Mitsubishi Power, Ansaldo Energia, or equivalent industrial suppliers.
•    Demonstrated experience negotiating complex equipment supply agreements, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), framework agreements, and strategic supplier contracts.
•    Strong understanding of generation project lifecycles, including development, EPC delivery, commissioning, operations, maintenance, and plant life extension activities.
•    Proven ability to utilize market intelligence and category analytics to influence sourcing decisions and deliver strategic value.
•    Experience managing supply chain risks associated with long-lead equipment, global manufacturing capacity constraints, and critical infrastructure projects.
•    Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and executive stakeholder management capabilities.
•    Experience leading and developing high-performing procurement teams.
•    Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior leadership, engineering teams, project teams, and supplier executives.
•    Degree qualification in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.

More Information

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