Category Manager - Substation & P&C
About the role
Help shape the supply chain behind the energy transition.
At National Grid, we're at the heart of one of the biggest infrastructure and energy transformation programmes in the UK.
As investment across our electricity transmission business continues to grow, we're looking for a Category Manager to lead the development and delivery of category strategies that secure long-term value, strengthen supply chain resilience and support the delivery of critical infrastructure projects.
This is a highly strategic role, sitting at the intersection of business demand, market intelligence and supplier capability. You'll act as the commercial and market expert for your assigned portfolio, shaping category strategies that influence investment decisions, drive innovation and ensure National Grid has the right supply chain partnerships in place to deliver for the future.
The role is hybrid with our office based in Warwick.
What you'll do
As a Category Manager, you'll lead the development of evidence-based category strategies that align business requirements with market capability and long-term organisational objectives.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and implementing category strategies across significant areas of spend, ensuring alignment with business priorities and investment plans.
- Translating future demand into market-facing interventions, sourcing approaches and commercial strategies.
- Building a deep understanding of supply markets, supplier capability, industry trends, innovation opportunities and emerging risks.
- Working closely with Programme Procurement teams to aggregate demand, identify leverage opportunities and create sustainable sourcing solutions.
- Leading market engagement activities to strengthen supplier ecosystems, assess market capacity and enhance supply chain resilience.
- Establishing category governance, commercial guardrails and routes to market that support programme delivery teams.
- Identifying opportunities to improve value beyond cost savings, including demand optimisation, sustainability, innovation and productivity improvements.
- Supporting supplier segmentation and strategic supplier relationship management activities.
- Providing insight and advice to senior stakeholders on market conditions, commercial opportunities, risks and investment decisions.
- Tracking category performance and demonstrating value delivery across assigned portfolios.
- Leading strategic sourcing activity where new routes to market are required.
What you'll need
We're seeking an experienced procurement or category management professional who can operate strategically, influence senior stakeholders and translate complex business requirements into effective category and supplier strategies.
You'll ideally bring:
- Significant experience in Category Management, Strategic Procurement or Supply Chain Management.
- A strong track record of developing and implementing category strategies across complex spend portfolios.
- Experience operating within large-scale, regulated, infrastructure, utilities, engineering or capital-intensive environments.
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance long-term value creation with operational delivery requirements.
- Expertise in market analysis, strategic sourcing, supplier segmentation, commercial strategy and supply chain risk management.
- Experience influencing and challenging senior stakeholders to shape business decisions.
- Strong analytical capability with confidence using data, market intelligence and performance metrics to drive recommendations.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills across matrix environments.
- Experience working collaboratively across multiple functions and programmes.
- Leadership capability with experience developing high-performing teams and fostering collaborative ways of working.
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £61,000 - £76,000 per annum – dependent on capability.
As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of upto 30% 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 19th November 2026 at 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.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.
Please note that in most cases, 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.