Category Manager

Role Overview

Category Manager – Procurement & Contract Management – PPE & MRO category. Based at Severn Trent Centre or Raynesway.

Day-to-day responsibilities

• Lead category strategies, commercial plans and sourcing pipelines for PPE & MRO
• Manage spend, ensuring strong contract coverage and forward planning
• Build and manage supplier relationships, driving performance and resolving issues
• Partner with stakeholders to understand demand and shape early commercial input
• Identify and manage market risks, developing clear mitigation plans
• Embed sustainability into sourcing and supplier performance
• Ensure compliance with processes and systems
• Support continuous improvement across the function
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across the supply chain

What you’ll bring to the role

• CIPS Level 5 (or equivalent) or the willingness to work towards it.
• Strong end-to-end procurement experience across the full commercial lifecycle (category planning, sourcing, negotiation, contracting, supplier performance).
• Confident negotiation and influencing skills, with a track record of delivering value and strong outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management – able to lead conversations, challenge constructively, and build trust across engineering/operations.
• Strong analytical skills – able to turn spend/contract performance data into insight and action.
• Strong systems confidence (e-procurement and related tools) and the ability to learn new processes quickly.
• A proactive, self-starting approach with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to deliver on time and on budget.
• A continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to drive positive change.
• Ideally, experience working in a regulated (or similarly governed) procurement environment.

What’s in it for you

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250, subject to eligibility)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Support for your CIPS studies
• Dedicated training and development with our Academy
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two paid volunteering days per year

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