Senior Category Buyer
About the role
At National Grid, we're at the heart of energy delivery, ensuring millions of people have the power they need today while building a cleaner, more resilient energy future for tomorrow.
We're looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to join our Procurement team. In this role, you'll work closely with Category Managers and business stakeholders to deliver strategic sourcing initiatives, shape category strategies, and drive commercial value across the organisation.
You'll play a key role in understanding business needs, analysing markets and supply chains, and developing sourcing solutions that balance cost, quality, risk, and long-term value. As a trusted procurement partner, you'll build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers, helping to deliver innovative solutions that support National Grid's strategic objectives.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence high-value procurement decisions, contribute to category strategy development, and support the delivery of a more efficient and sustainable supply chain.
The role is a hybrid role with our base office in Warwick with an expectation to be in the office 1-2 days a week.
What you'll do
- Support the development and implementation of category strategies, identifying opportunities to deliver value, improve supplier performance, and manage risk.
- Lead sourcing activities including RFx events, negotiations, sole source justifications, and supplier selection processes.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business to understand requirements and deliver effective procurement solutions.
- Engage with suppliers to drive continuous improvement, innovation, and long-term value creation.
- Analyse complex commercial, supplier and market data to identify opportunities, trends and procurement benefits.
- Conduct market research and supplier assessments to inform sourcing decisions and category strategies.
- Evaluate bids and commercial proposals, providing clear recommendations to support contract award decisions.
- Develop negotiation strategies and lead commercial negotiations to achieve successful outcomes.
- Drive continuous improvement across procurement and supply chain processes, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Assess supplier and contractual risks and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Support the development of supplier performance frameworks, including KPIs and contractual performance measures.
- Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles to support informed sourcing and supplier decisions.
What you'll need
- Significant experience in strategic sourcing and category management within a regulated or complex environment.
- Strong procurement and commercial negotiation experience, including leading sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
- Experience developing and implementing category strategies that deliver value and business benefit.
- Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
- Experience conducting supplier assessments, market analysis and commercial evaluations.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build effective working relationships across all levels of an organisation.
- Experience developing, negotiating and managing commercial contracts.
- Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) methodologies and supplier performance management principles.
- An understanding of project management principles and experience managing multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £48,374.00 - £57,012.50– 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 13th August 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.