At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing and optimise spend for a utilities client.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading utilities company in West Sussex.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and opportunity for professional growth.
- Other info: 6-month contract with potential for future opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on procurement strategies and drive value for the organisation.
- Qualifications: Experience in Category Management and strong analytical skills required.
Hybrid / Durrington, West Sussex (attendance in office 2/3 days a week)
6-Month Contract £550 per day (Inside IR35)
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to join our utilities client within their Sourcing and Category Management team on an interim basis. This role will provide critical support in shaping and delivering the Customer Strategy from a procurement and commercial perspective.
The Role
As Category Manager, you will play a key role in strategic sourcing, demand management and value delivery, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders to optimise spend and minimise total cost of ownership. Southern Water’s Sourcing & Category Management function is focused on driving value through proactive category strategies, aligning procurement approaches with organisational demand and long‑term business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Play a key role in strategic sourcing, demand management and value delivery, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders to optimise spend and minimise total cost of ownership
- Develop and implement category‑specific sourcing strategies aligned with Procurement and Value Management strategies
- Work closely with business leads to understand requirements, volume demands and specifications
- Analyse category spend and demand patterns to inform robust strategies and pipelines
- Lead supplier and spend profiling across the category
- Deliver strategic (and where required tactical) initiatives to support aggregation and standardisation opportunities
- Identify and reduce tail spend and spot buying activity, implementing sustainable solutions
- Support sub‑category opportunity assessments and value analysis
- Engage early with projects/programmes to identify and manage third‑party spend
- Collaborate with Commercial, Supplier Engagement and Contract Management teams to ensure alignment and continuous improvement
- Drive innovation and continuous improvement, leveraging market insight and best practice
- Track and report on value delivery and financial benefits
- Ensure compliance with procurement governance and processes
About You
You will be a commercially driven procurement professional with:
- Proven experience in Category Management / Strategic Sourcing
- Strong ability to develop and execute category strategies
- Experience working with complex stakeholder environments
- Demonstrated success in cost optimisation and value creation
- Excellent analytical and spend analysis capability
- Strong supplier engagement and commercial negotiation skills
- Knowledge of governance, procurement frameworks and best practice
Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Category Manager in Pulborough employer: Adecco
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Durrington, West Sussex, where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and strategic involvement in shaping our procurement strategies. Our hybrid working model promotes a healthy work-life balance, making us an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the utilities sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager in Pulborough
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager in Pulborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Adecco that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Adecco can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Adecco that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Adecco know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adecco
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
