This is a high‑impact leadership role at the heart of Heathrow’s Energy & Utilities transformation. The role leads end‑to‑end operational procurement for some of the airport’s most critical energy categories such as, electricity, water, gas, fuel and desalination. This role shapes how Heathrow sources, contracts and manages the systems that keep the airport running.
In this role, you will set the direction for category strategy, lead complex sourcing and commercial negotiations, and provide programme wide commercial oversight that directly informs senior decision making. With a mandate to drive value, resilience and innovation, the role translates complex technical and commercial detail into clear, actionable strategies that support Heathrow’s net‑zero ambitions and long‑term energy roadmap.
This role will require your leadership in a fast‑moving, multi‑stakeholder environment, and bringing deep Energy & Utilities procurement expertise, strong renewable market insight and the ability to challenge, advise and influence senior stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Leading commercial oversight of the Energy & Utilities Programme, ensuring alignment to strategic objectives, delivery milestones and operational requirements.
- Developing and evolving category strategies, sourcing pipelines and market intelligence to drive long‑term value, resilience and performance.
- Running complex, end‑to‑end strategic sourcing activity, shaping route‑to‑market strategies and delivering robust commercial outcomes.
- Providing leadership across Energy & Utilities procurement, driving market engagement, supplier capability assessments and forward‑looking strategy informed by regulatory and market developments.
- Negotiating and managing complex commercial agreements, KPIs and value mechanisms, ensuring benefits realisation and continuous performance improvement.
- Acting as a trusted advisor within programme governance, influencing senior stakeholders, ensuring consistent procurement standards and driving collaboration across teams.
Qualifications
- Significant experience leading Energy & Utilities procurement, with strong knowledge of renewable energy markets and regulatory dynamics.
- Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies and lead complex end‑to‑end strategic sourcing.
- Strong commercial and contractual leadership, including negotiating complex agreements and ensuring governance and value for money.
- Programme‑level commercial oversight capability, managing risks, interdependencies and performance across large, multi‑workstream environments.
- Credible senior stakeholder influence, acting as a trusted advisor and aligning diverse groups to procurement and commercial outcomes.
- Leadership experience driving high‑performance delivery, developing teams and fostering collaboration across procurement and wider functions.
Ideally you will have
- Experience shaping forward‑looking Energy & Utilities strategies informed by market dynamics, regulatory change and innovation.
- Strong understanding of renewable commercial mechanisms such as shaping, imbalance management, sleeving and certificate retirement.
- Familiarity with complex programme governance structures, providing challenge, assurance and commercial insight at senior forum
- Experience partnering with CAPEX teams to ensure effective contract mobilisation, delivery and performance management.
Senior Category Leader in London employer: Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the fast-paced aviation industry. With a commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and the chance to lead transformative projects in data science and AI. Join us at one of the world's busiest airports, where your contributions will directly enhance safety and efficiency in airport operations.
