Location
Hybrid - Clearwater Court, Reading with occasional site visits

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Up to £62,000 per annum depending on experience

About the Role
The Category Manager will develop and deliver end-to-end category strategies across short, medium, and long-term horizons, driving value while managing commercial risk. You will provide market insight, lead sourcing activities, and act as the commercial expert, adapting quickly to market changes to secure optimal outcomes. The role oversees supplier performance and relationships, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with business objectives while delivering measurable value. This is a unique opportunity to be part of Thames Water’s most significant investment programme in over 100 years.

Key responsibilities include:
- Engaging proactively with internal stakeholders to shape category approach, business needs, spend, and suppliers
- Being recognised as the Procurement/Commercial expert for the category with unmatched market knowledge and insight
- Understanding the category and providing leadership on supply market dynamics, regulatory and internal frameworks, suppliers, and technical innovations
- Identifying and prioritising a sourcing pipeline as part of category development
- Leading category projects and sourcing events adhering to required approaches
- Negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters, applying judgement on acceptable contractual risk and supply resilience
- Leading the review of supplier opportunities, innovations, and improvements
- Developing effective relationships with key functional stakeholders and leaving a legacy of change in how Commercial is deployed across the organisation
- Operating information systems to maintain accurate and secure records
- Ensuring timely and accurate reporting on sourcing projects using available reporting tools

We are recruiting several Category Managers within Waste Operations, Retail, and Digital sectors.

Experience
- Strong understanding and experience operating in complex supply chain environments
- Proven track record in continuous improvement and delivering against stretching targets
- Experience working with key suppliers and leading complex supplier negotiations up to £100m in value
- Good understanding of pre and post deal processes and how improvements in process and information can deliver value
- Ability to analyse data and holistically manage risk

About you
- Ability to challenge industry norms and proactively seek opportunities for sustained performance improvements
- Commercially astute with excellent negotiation skills
- Strong stakeholder management and leadership capabilities
- Adaptable and able to operate effectively in a dynamic environment

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are stated; however, relevant commercial, procurement, or supply chain qualifications would be advantageous.