Closing Date
2026-06-01
Job Title
Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations)
Location
Durrington, Worthing (Hybrid – 2 days per week on site)
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
37 hours per week, flexible working options considered
Salary
Up to £60,000 per annum, commensurate to experience + excellent benefits
About The Role
We’re on a mission to create a more sustainable and resilient future by tackling climate change, reducing our carbon footprint, and delivering long‑term value for customers and communities. As part of this journey, we are strengthening our Procurement Division and investing in talent that can influence change at scale. We’re now looking for a Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations) to support our operational teams by delivering effective, compliant, and value‑driven procurement solutions across goods and services critical to our asset base.
Responsibilities
- Developing and delivering category strategies aligned to operational and organisational objectives
- Managing end‑to‑end sourcing activities, including tendering, evaluation, and contract award across operational goods and services
- Partnering with stakeholders across operations to understand demand, challenge requirements, and shape effective sourcing solutions
- Driving value through cost optimisation, standardisation, and demand aggregation, while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations
- Managing supplier relationships to support performance, resilience, and continuous improvement
- Championing best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement within the procurement function
Qualifications
Essential
- Proven experience in a Category or Sourcing role within an operational, engineering, manufacturing, construction, or asset‑focused environment
- Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations, including PA23 (experience with UCR is also advantageous)
- Experience running multiple procurement exercises concurrently and managing competing priorities
- Confident stakeholder management and negotiation skills
- A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with strong commercial and analytical capability
Desirable
- CIPS qualification (or working towards)
- Experience procuring operational goods, equipment, hardware, or services within a regulated environment
About Southern Water
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, with £7.8 bn of planned investment for 2025–2030 to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence.
Diversity Commitment
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional Information
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to undertake pre‑employment checks, including identity verification, right‑to‑work checks, DBS, and employment/education history verification.
Eligibility
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility and current proof of address.
#J-18808-Ljbffr”, “datePosted”: “2026-05-20”, “hiringOrganization”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Southern Water”, “sameAs”: “https://uk.whatjobs.com/pub_api__cpl__436985238__4861?utm_campaign=publisher&utm_medium=api&utm_source=4861&geoID=625” }, “jobLocation”: { “@type”: “Place”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “addressLocality”: “Worthing” } } }Closing Date
2026-06-01
Job Title
Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations)
Location
Durrington, Worthing (Hybrid – 2 days per week on site)
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
37 hours per week, flexible working options considered
Salary
Up to £60,000 per annum, commensurate to experience + excellent benefits
About The Role
We’re on a mission to create a more sustainable and resilient future by tackling climate change, reducing our carbon footprint, and delivering long‑term value for customers and communities. As part of this journey, we are strengthening our Procurement Division and investing in talent that can influence change at scale. We’re now looking for a Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations) to support our operational teams by delivering effective, compliant, and value‑driven procurement solutions across goods and services critical to our asset base.
Responsibilities
- Developing and delivering category strategies aligned to operational and organisational objectives
- Managing end‑to‑end sourcing activities, including tendering, evaluation, and contract award across operational goods and services
- Partnering with stakeholders across operations to understand demand, challenge requirements, and shape effective sourcing solutions
- Driving value through cost optimisation, standardisation, and demand aggregation, while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations
- Managing supplier relationships to support performance, resilience, and continuous improvement
- Championing best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement within the procurement function
Qualifications
Essential
- Proven experience in a Category or Sourcing role within an operational, engineering, manufacturing, construction, or asset‑focused environment
- Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations, including PA23 (experience with UCR is also advantageous)
- Experience running multiple procurement exercises concurrently and managing competing priorities
- Confident stakeholder management and negotiation skills
- A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with strong commercial and analytical capability
Desirable
- CIPS qualification (or working towards)
- Experience procuring operational goods, equipment, hardware, or services within a regulated environment
About Southern Water
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, with £7.8 bn of planned investment for 2025–2030 to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence.
Diversity Commitment
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional Information
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to undertake pre‑employment checks, including identity verification, right‑to‑work checks, DBS, and employment/education history verification.
Eligibility
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility and current proof of address.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…