Job Function: Procurement and Contract Management
Are you ready to kick-start your career in procurement? Join our dynamic team as an Associate Category Buyer on a 6-month fixed-term contract, where you will play a vital role in strategic procurement operations within your designated business area(s)!
Reporting to a Category Manager, you will collaborate closely with Senior Buyers and Category Managers to deliver impactful category strategies. In this exciting position, you will support multiple strategic sourcing events within your portfolio, working alongside experienced professionals to understand and challenge demand, set sourcing strategies, and manage events from market engagement through to award.
As the Associate Buyer, you will take ownership of several sourcing events, guiding them from start to finish and ensuring successful outcomes. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, gain valuable experience, and contribute to the success of National Grid’s procurement initiatives. If you are passionate about procurement and eager to make a difference, we want to hear from you!
What You'll Do
Drive Strategic Sourcing:
Support multiple strategic sourcing events within your portfolio, collaborating with Senior Category Buyers, Category Managers, and stakeholders to understand and challenge demand, ensuring the best solutions for National Grid. Market Insights:
Assist in developing category characteristics by researching supply markets and assessing trends, opportunities, and risks. Your insights will be vital in driving continuous improvement in category strategy and procurement performance. Best-in-Class Procurement:
Execute standardised strategic sourcing processes from market engagement to award, ensuring that goods and services are procured in a manner that maximises value and efficiency. Collaborative Delivery:
Work alongside Contract Managers and Procurement Programme Managers to ensure the successful delivery of contracted activities, identifying opportunities for improvement through supplier and stakeholder engagement. Tender Management:
Deliver exceptional value by effectively managing tender events for key products essential to the business. Forward Planning:
Contribute to effective forward planning by identifying future requirements and implementing robust forecasting to maximise the value of procured goods and services. Contract Development:
Scope and develop regional contractual agreements that meet the needs and expectations of customer stakeholders. What You'll Bring
To be successful in this exciting opportunity, you will bring experience of the following: Strategic Sourcing and Category Management Expertise:
Bring your experience in strategic sourcing and category management to the forefront, where you will play a vital role in shaping our procurement strategies and driving value for National Grid. Project Management Acumen:
Showcase your understanding of project management principles, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver outstanding results consistently. Your organisational skills will be key in navigating our dynamic environment. Essential Skills for Success:
To excel in this role, you will harness your critical and creative thinking abilities, adopt a collaborative approach, and maintain a process-focused mindset. Confidence, resilience, and excellent communication skills will empower you to thrive. Customer Service and Relationship Building:
Your strong customer service and relationship-building skills will be essential as you interact credibly and genuinely with stakeholders, enhancing their experience and fostering collaboration. Multitasking and Deadline Management:
You will adeptly manage various activities concurrently, ensuring that deadlines are met without compromising quality. Data Analysis and Insight Development:
Your experience in collating and organising data, analysing commercial issues, and providing valuable insights—including the development of KPIs—will be crucial in driving informed decision-making. Technical Proficiency:
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, data visualisation, and database tools will enable you to effectively present and manage information, contributing to the overall success of our procurement initiatives. What You'll Get
A competitive salary between £39,057 – £43,652 – dependent on capability As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few. More Information
This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis. We are also offering hybrid/flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need. Base location for this role will be Warwick, UK. This role closes on Thursday 6th February 2025; however, we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible. About Us
Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. And whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy. At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value, and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.
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Drive Strategic Sourcing:
Support multiple strategic sourcing events within your portfolio, collaborating with Senior Category Buyers, Category Managers, and stakeholders to understand and challenge demand, ensuring the best solutions for National Grid. Market Insights:
Assist in developing category characteristics by researching supply markets and assessing trends, opportunities, and risks. Your insights will be vital in driving continuous improvement in category strategy and procurement performance. Best-in-Class Procurement:
Execute standardised strategic sourcing processes from market engagement to award, ensuring that goods and services are procured in a manner that maximises value and efficiency. Collaborative Delivery:
Work alongside Contract Managers and Procurement Programme Managers to ensure the successful delivery of contracted activities, identifying opportunities for improvement through supplier and stakeholder engagement. Tender Management:
Deliver exceptional value by effectively managing tender events for key products essential to the business. Forward Planning:
Contribute to effective forward planning by identifying future requirements and implementing robust forecasting to maximise the value of procured goods and services. Contract Development:
Scope and develop regional contractual agreements that meet the needs and expectations of customer stakeholders. What You'll Bring
To be successful in this exciting opportunity, you will bring experience of the following: Strategic Sourcing and Category Management Expertise:
Bring your experience in strategic sourcing and category management to the forefront, where you will play a vital role in shaping our procurement strategies and driving value for National Grid. Project Management Acumen:
Showcase your understanding of project management principles, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver outstanding results consistently. Your organisational skills will be key in navigating our dynamic environment. Essential Skills for Success:
To excel in this role, you will harness your critical and creative thinking abilities, adopt a collaborative approach, and maintain a process-focused mindset. Confidence, resilience, and excellent communication skills will empower you to thrive. Customer Service and Relationship Building:
Your strong customer service and relationship-building skills will be essential as you interact credibly and genuinely with stakeholders, enhancing their experience and fostering collaboration. Multitasking and Deadline Management:
You will adeptly manage various activities concurrently, ensuring that deadlines are met without compromising quality. Data Analysis and Insight Development:
Your experience in collating and organising data, analysing commercial issues, and providing valuable insights—including the development of KPIs—will be crucial in driving informed decision-making. Technical Proficiency:
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, data visualisation, and database tools will enable you to effectively present and manage information, contributing to the overall success of our procurement initiatives. What You'll Get
A competitive salary between £39,057 – £43,652 – dependent on capability As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few. More Information
This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis. We are also offering hybrid/flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need. Base location for this role will be Warwick, UK. This role closes on Thursday 6th February 2025; however, we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible. About Us
Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. And whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy. At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value, and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
