Senior Category Manager

Overview

In this Senior Category Manager role, you shape and lead the Asset Repair and Refurbishment category to deliver value and sustainability. You’ll partner with senior stakeholders to align procurement with business priorities and regulatory expectations, guiding strategic plans and major sourcing activity. You drive supplier relationships, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement within a regulated environment, contributing to Severn Trent’s AMP8 agenda. This is your chance to influence critical infrastructure delivery in a supportive, inclusive culture.

Pay / Benefits

• 28 days holiday
• annual bonus
• pension scheme
• Sharesave
• CIPS study support
• training and development

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of strategic category plans and procurement pipelines
• Oversee complex tender activity and lead negotiations for best value
• Monitor spend and ensure contract coverage and forward planning
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders to influence planning
• Identify and manage supply chain risks with mitigation and contingency plans
• Embed sustainability into sourcing strategies and drive supplier performance
• Ensure compliance with Severn Trent processes and regulated procurement requirements
• Contribute to continuous improvement across the Procurement function
• Promote health, safety and wellbeing across suppliers and stakeholders

Key requirements

• Experience delivering end-to-end procurement and category management strategies
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills with track record of delivering commercial value
• Confident in engaging with and challenging senior stakeholders
• Ability to turn data and market insight into strategic decisions
• Proactive, problem-solving mindset with ability to work independently
• Passion for continuous improvement and driving change
• Experience operating in a regulated or complex organisation (utilities experience a plus)
• CIPS Level 6 (or working towards) preferred

• negotiation
• influencing
• stakeholder management
• end-to-end procurement
• category management strategies
• data-driven decision making

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