Category Manager

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Hello. We’re Severn Trent and we think water is wonderful. And we’re pretty keen on people, too.

The Information Technology category at Severn Trent is a fast paced & dynamic environment which has a massive impact on the overall Business performance & delivery. We have made some bold decisions in our IT strategies as we have moved to a Cloud first & agile delivery methodology & this role will be at the heart of driving future bold strategies from a Commercial perspective.

This is a fantastic opportunity and would be ideal for someone who is ambitious and driven wanting to build a career in a FTSE
100 that prides itself on growth and talent development. You will be creating, delivering, and managing complex agreements which satisfy our core values whilst delivering value for money.

As a Category Manager for Information Technology, you will be responsible for sourcing and implementing optimum deals with our suppliers to deliver our business requirements. You will research supply markets, assess trends, opportunities, and risks. You will develop and implement category strategies and recommend strategic sourcing options, tactics and implementation plans whilst mitigating commercial supply risks. This role gives you the freedom to manage your own category area with autonomy and act as the subject matter expert for best in class procurement.

Partnering with stakeholders, you will take the lead on all necessary document preparation and tendering whilst also being responsible for the supplier selection, managing regulated tender process’s and implementing contracts. You will make sure that all suppliers are effectively and appropriately managed and driven to continuously improve their performance. You will be adept at developing suppliers to ensure they continue to grow with the business and meet our requirements in the short, medium, and long term.

• Managing tenders and contracts within the appropriate regulated Procurement framework whilst developing and implementing short and long term category strategies that contribute to the department’s savings delivery plan and wider business objectives
• Developing category knowledge that supports the property & estates team meet their objectives/business plan and supports innovation within the category
• Working in partnership with key stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve existing contract’s and supplier performance
• Ensuring all policies are followed throughout the procurement process and that all procurement is carried out in an ethical and compliant manner.
• Responsibility for driving the Supplier relationship management & contract management approach.

• A strong commercial background gained in a complex, multi-site organisation
• The capability to work autonomously with the drive to identify and lead on new initiatives
• Excellent interpersonal skills and stakeholder management capabilities with the ability to influence and communicate at all levels
• Experience and knowledge of purchasing processes including the Utility Contract Regulations (UCR) is desirable but not essential.
• A practical working knowledge of contractual terms and conditions with sound commercial awareness
• High level analytical, verbal and presentation skills
• Experience and working knowledge of the SAP Ariba system
• A good understanding of category management with a proven ability to develop and execute category strategies
• Experience of managing complex projects in a purchasing environment negotiating and drafting of contracts

• 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, which is 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

We can’t wait to hear from you. Have an updated CV ready and spare five minutes to apply. We'll let you know the outcome after the closing date, so keep an eye on your phone and emails.