Senior Operations Category Manager in London

Senior Operations Category ManagerStrategic Procurement | Operations Procurement | Category Strategy | Complex Supply ChainsLocation: West London (Hybrid) Salary: Up to 78,000 + 5,000 car allowance (+ bonus up to 25%, private medical & attractive benefits package)Ready to take ownership of complex operational categories and influence major commercial decisions within a business undergoing significant transformation?A leading UK utilities organisation is continuing to invest heavily in its procurement function and is looking to appoint two Senior Category Managers within its Operations team. This is an opportunity to take a leading role in shaping category strategy, driving commercial performance and managing critical supplier relationships across a business delivering essential services to millions of customers.Following a period of significant growth, the organisation is embarking on its most ambitious investment programme in over 100 years. Procurement is receiving significant investment and increased focus from senior leadership, with a clear commitment to building a stronger, more influential function. As a Senior Category Manager, you'll take ownership of complex operational categories, leading end-to-end sourcing and supplier management activities while working closely with senior stakeholders to deliver commercial value, strengthen supply chain performance and challenge existing approaches.As a Senior Category Manager, you will:Lead Strategic Category Management: Take ownership of end-to-end category strategies, shaping business priorities. You'll have the autonomy to influence category direction, drive commercial priorities and deliver sustainable value across strategically important areas of the business.Drive Complex Sourcing Projects: Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from market engagement and tendering through to negotiation and contract award, navigating complex requirements and securing competitive outcomes. You'll gain exposure to challenging, high-value procurement projects that will further develop your commercial expertise and strategic sourcing capability.Own Strategic Supplier Relationships: Take the lead on key supplier relationships, building influential partnerships and holding suppliers accountable for contractual performance and service delivery.Influence Senior Stakeholders: Become a trusted commercial partner to senior stakeholders across the business, using your market knowledge and category expertise to challenge requirements and shape decisions.Deliver Commercial & Operational Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve cost, efficiency, resilience and supplier performance, bringing fresh thinking and challenging established ways of working.To be successful in this role, you will need:Senior Category Management Experience: A strong background in procurement and category management, with demonstrable experience independently leading end-to-end category strategies, sourcing projects and supplier management activities.Complex Supply Chain Exposure: Experience working within complex operational supply chains, ideally gained in industries or categories involving significant commercial, operational or technical complexity. You'll understand the challenges of managing critical suppliers and balancing commercial priorities with business requirements.Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: A proven track record of leading complex sourcing initiatives, negotiating commercial agreements and managing contractual processes, with the confidence to influence outcomes and deliver value.Supplier & Stakeholder Management: Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and engaging with senior stakeholders, with the ability to build credibility, challenge constructively and influence decisions across different levels of an organisation.Commercial Leadership & Initiative: Strong commercial awareness, analytical and problem-solving skills, alongside a proactive, curious and commercially driven mindset. Someone who takes ownership, looks beyond the immediate requirements of a role and is motivated by identifying opportunities, driving change and delivering ambitious objectives.This is an excellent opportunity to join a procurement function experiencing significant growth, with unprecedented investment, strong senior leadership backing and a genuine commitment to elevating procurement. It's the perfect opportunity for someone ready to take ownership of strategically important categories, influence senior decision-making and make a lasting impact on commercial and operational performance.Interested?If you're an experienced procurement professional looking for a senior role with greater ownership, complex category challenges and the opportunity to influence a growing function, we'd welcome a conversation.For further information or to apply, email your CV to Maria at jobsMC@bramwith.com