Senior Category Buyer

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.

To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Reporting into a Category Manager (Band D), the Senior Buyer is responsible for strategic procurement operations within the aligned business area(s). The role will partner the Category Manager in delivery of Category strategies. This will involve engaging and building strong working relationships with stakeholders across the business, within procurement, and externally, to identify business needs and then ensuring we understand the supply chains so we can offer the best solutions for National Grid.

* 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 development and execution of 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 or Procurement Programme 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.
* Role model excellence in procurement standards, taking a proactive role in mentoring / providing guidance to Buyers and Associate Buyers to ensure best-in-class methodologies are adopted and utilized across National Grid Procurement.
* 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 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 develops regional contractual agreements that meet the customer stakeholder requirements and
expectations.

• Significant experience of strategic sourcing and category management
• An understanding of project management principles and ideally evidence of managing multiple projects and consistently delivering outstanding results.
• Ability to prepare for and to lead negotiations.
• Ability to build and manage complex commercial assessment models.
• Experience of contract development, including the ability to make recommendations and amendments to existing contracts as well as drafting new ones.
• Degree level or equivalent

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