Category Buyer
About us
At National Grid, we’re at the heart of delivering the energy that powers millions of lives and businesses every day. Our procurement team plays a critical role in enabling this ensuring we build resilient, sustainable, and high-performing supply chains.
As a Category Buyer, you’ll support the delivery of strategic procurement activity across key business areas, working closely with a Category Manager to lead sourcing events and implement category strategies. From engaging the market through to contract award and lifecycle management, you’ll play a hands-on role in driving value, building supplier partnerships, and ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for National Grid.
What you'll do
- Deliver multiple strategic sourcing events within portfolio, working with stakeholders to understand and challenge
demand and ensure the best possible solutions for National Grid. - Input into the sourcing strategy for allocated category and execute standardised strategic sourcing processes from
market engagement through to award, ensuring goods / services are procured in a best-in-class manner that drives
value. - Work with Contract Managers to ensure the successful delivery of contracted activities, identifying continuous
improvement opportunities through engagement with suppliers and stakeholders, and maximizing value for
money from contracts awarded. - Support the overall development and delivery of assigned category strategy and share best practice across other
category teams. - Profile category characteristics and research supply markets, suppliers and assess trends, opportunities and risks
feeding insights into the Global teams and Market and Supplier Development teams. - Delivering value by effectively managing tender events for key products and services required by the business.
- Contribute to an effective forward planning process by identifying future requirements of supported areas and
ensure robust forecasting is put in place that maximises value of goods / services procured. - Scope and develop regional contractual agreements that meet the customer stakeholder requirements and
expectations.
What you'll need
- Experience of strategic sourcing and category management.
- An understanding of project management principles and ideally evidence of managing multiple projects andconsistently delivering outstanding results.
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Experience in automotive or engineering sectors would be desirable with knowledge of:
- Raw materials procurement
- Line-side parts and/or equipment sourcing
- EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) programme
- Ability to build and manage complex commercial assessment models to ensure delivery of value across a balanced
scorecard. - Ability to prepare for and to lead negotiations to deliver high value outcomes.
- Strong background in technical or strategic procurement
- Experience of contract development, including the ability to make recommendations and amendments to existing
contracts as well as drafting new ones.
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £42,000 - £50,000 per annum– dependent on capability.
As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.
More information
This role closes on at 13th July 2026 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.
At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.
National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.