Senior Category Manager

LET’S CUT STRAIGHT TO IT

At Severn Trent, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide for employee engagement, and we’re equally proud of our strong Glassdoor score — reflecting how much our people love working here. Join us to make a positive impact on the environment and our communities, while being valued and supported in a truly inclusive workplace. If you want to do more, because you care, we want you on our team.

LET’S TELL YOU MORE

As Senior Category Manager, you’ll provide strategic commercial and procurement leadership across categories, programmes and complex sourcing activity. You’ll shape long-term strategies, influence investment decisions and lead high-value procurement and negotiations, helping us deliver value, innovation and resilience while managing commercial risk.

Based at Finham, Coventry, you’ll work 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You’ll lead complex procurement exercises, use market and supplier insight to inform decisions, develop strategic supplier relationships and provide clear commercial advice to stakeholders. You’ll also oversee contract performance, risk and change while maintaining strong governance and commercial records.

HOW WE WORK

You’ll join a caring culture that collaborates to achieve, grow, and develop. Our employee engagement scores are among the highest globally in energy and utilities. That’s why we value in-person moments to keep our culture alive and why for this role you’ll usually find us in the office during our working hours.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You’ll have experience leading category strategy and complex end-to-end procurement in a regulated, infrastructure, utilities, construction or similarly complex environment.

• Strong commercial judgement, including cost modelling, financial evaluation, risk allocation and value-for-money analysis
• Experience leading complex negotiations and managing contractual arrangements and change controls
• Strong knowledge of procurement governance and relevant legislative and policy requirements
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and influencing senior stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication and the ability to manage a varied portfolio
• A professional procurement or commercial qualification, such as CIPS, is desirable, as is experience of SAP Ariba or comparable procurement systems

Skills and experience are important, but character, positivity, and a caring attitude matter too. We welcome people from all walks of life and celebrate individuality, as we know diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us to learn and better serve our communities.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU IN RETURN

It’s not just a job; it’s a career. We offer benefits that reward great work and awardwinning training to help you reach your potential. You’ll also contribute to the environment and community.

• 28 days annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Pension, with Severn Trent doubling your contribution when you contribute 7.5%
• Family-friendly policies, including a year’s paid maternity or adoption leave
• Share schemes, with contributions from £5 to £500 a month
• Professional and personal development through the ST Academy
• Annual bonus of up to £2,250, dependent on company performance
• Electric vehicle scheme and up to two volunteering days each year

LET’S GO

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.