Category Buyer, IMS & Hardware

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 Category Buyer is responsible for daily strategic procurement operations within IMS & Hardware. The role will assist the Category Manager and potentially a Senior Category Buyer in delivery of Category strategies, including planning and execution of strategic sourcing events through contract award and supporting lifecycle management. 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 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.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience of strategic sourcing, contract negotiations and category management within IT Procurement.
• 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 to deliver high value outcomes.
• Ability to build and manage complex commercial assessment models to ensure delivery of value across a balanced scorecard.
• Experience of contract development, including the ability to make recommendations and amendments to existing contracts as well as drafting new ones.

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