Senior Category Manager

Within our Procurement team, we have an opportunity for a Senior Category Manager – Energy to lead the commercial, risk management and contract management strategy across Severn Trent’s growing energy portfolio. Energy is our second‑largest area of external spend, making this a high‑profile role with significant accountability and impact. The role involves managing energy cost, risk and supplier performance, supporting the renewables portfolio, and engaging in demand management and flexibility markets.

Responsibilities

• Strategically manage the Energy purchasing category, driving improvements in commercial and contract performance while actively managing market, regulatory and supply‑chain risk.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities and regulated tender processes across the Energy category to establish a sustainable, competitive and compliant supply chain.
• Identify and deliver category value opportunities, including cost savings, risk reduction and performance improvements to support Severn Trent’s net‑zero, operational resilience and affordability ambitions.
• Collaborate closely with senior stakeholders across Energy, Finance, Legal and Operations, providing commercial insight, shaping contracting models and managing supplier relationships.
• Embed ESG requirements into sourcing strategies, tenders and contracts, driving improvements in carbon reduction, ethical compliance, responsible sourcing and resilience.
• Co‑achieve commercial capability of the Procurement team by coaching and supporting Buyers and Category Managers.

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong commercial background in a regulated or utilities environment, with experience in modern purchasing processes and end‑to‑end category and contract management.
• Proven ability to develop and articulate category strategies and manage supplier engagements.
• Professional qualification such as CIPS is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to purchase up to five days per year).
• Annual bonus scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Leading pension scheme with matched contributions up to 15%.
• Sharesave scheme – discounted purchase of Severn Trent Plc shares.
• Support for CIPS study courses.
• Dedicated training and development through our Academy.
• Electric vehicle charging scheme and retail offers.
• Family‑friendly policies.
• Two paid volunteering days per year.

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