At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for Heathrow's energy portfolio and shape long-term utilities strategy.
- Company: Join Heathrow's Energy & Utilities Transformation team, a leader in innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced role with opportunities to develop leadership skills and grow your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable energy solutions at a world-renowned airport.
- Qualifications: Experience in energy procurement and strong commercial skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with Heathrow to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
Heathrow’s Energy & Utilities Transformation team are seeking a Senior Category Manager to drive delivery across a fast‑growing energy portfolio and help shape the airport’s long‑term utilities strategy.
In this role you will lead end‑to‑end procurement for critical operational categories, shape how the airport sources, contracts and manages the goods and services that keep its energy systems running. It involves designing and delivering smart procurement strategies that unlock value, reduce risk and strengthen operational performance, from market intelligence and options analysis through to sourcing, negotiation and post‑contract delivery.
You will translate complex technical and commercial information into clear, actionable plans that support Heathrow’s short‑ and long‑term energy ambitions. This includes building category plans, pre‑contract strategies, total cost of ownership assessments and commercial models, ensuring every decision is robust and aligned with governance requirements and compliance.
Responsibilities:- Managing end‑to‑end procurement for Heathrow’s Energy & Utilities category, including strategy development, sourcing, negotiation, contract award and post‑contract management.
- Developing category strategies, market intelligence, commercial models and options analysis to maximise value, minimise risk and support operational and long‑term business objectives.
- Running competitive sourcing processes for complex, high‑value spend areas, including market engagement, evaluation design, tendering and ensuring compliance with procurement governance and competition law.
- Working closely with operational, engineering and commercial stakeholders to align procurement strategy, challenge business plans and ensure robust, defensible decision‑making.
- Managing supplier performance through contract management, KPIs, service levels and continuous improvement, while coaching and supporting colleagues within the procurement function.
- Leading key contractual and commercial negotiations, engaging with relevant internal advisors (legal, insurance) upholding the best interests of Heathrow with the ability to assess and articulate risks.
- Strong technical grounding in energy utilities and renewable procurement, with experience across electricity, water, gas, fuel or desalination.
- Proven experience delivering long‑term renewable energy contracts such as Power Purchase Agreements, with understanding of commercial, regulatory and technical factors.
- Ability to translate complex engineering and market information into clear commercial insight for senior, non‑technical stakeholders.
- Strong commercial and contractual capability, including experience using recognised contracting models such as NEC or similar industry‑standard forms.
- Experience delivering procurement or commercial outcomes within large programme or matrix environments, influencing multiple stakeholder groups.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, with the ability to grow talent, motivate teams, and enable high‑performance delivery in a fast‑paced, operational environment.
- Experience working within energy suppliers, brokers or TPIs (e.g., Amber Energy, Inspired Energy), or within utilities, renewables, oil & gas or National Grid‑type organisations.
- Exposure to multi‑year renewable procurement cycles, commercialisation models or regulated/unregulated energy delivery routes.
- Experience contributing to large programme environments or multi‑workstream delivery.
- Familiarity with supplier‑partnering environments and integrated delivery models.
- Experience coaching and developing early‑career team members.
- Broader experience with industry‑standard contracting models beyond NEC.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager (Temporary) in Hounslow
✨Get Plugged into Local Energy Events
Dive into energy and utilities-specific events in your area, like community workshops or regional renewable energy fairs. These gatherings are perfect for meeting industry insiders and gaining insights that can boost your chances when you chat with Heathrow.
✨Summer Opportunities Await!
Temporary roles in the energy sector often peak during summer or peak project periods. Keep your eyes open for advertised roles on sites like indeed.co.uk, but also consider reaching out directly to companies like Heathrow to ask about upcoming opportunities.
✨Show Your Passion for Sustainability
Craft a brief personal statement about why renewable energy matters to you, and be ready to share it in any interviews or conversations. This can help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about the sector, a quality that can be golden for temporary roles.
✨Utilise Job Boards Specific to Energy
Check out job boards that focus on the energy sector, like Energy Jobline or RenewableEnergyJobs. These platforms are tailored to our industry, and you'll find temporary roles that may not be listed elsewhere, bringing you one step closer to landing that role at Heathrow.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager (Temporary) in Hounslow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Energy Sector Know-How:When you're applying for a temporary role in the energy and utilities sector, it’s crucial to showcase any relevant experience or knowledge you have. Highlight specific projects or coursework that demonstrate your understanding of energy systems, sustainability, or utilities management. This way, we can see you’re not just a candidate – you’re someone who knows the territory!
Certifications Matter!:If you've got any certifications related to energy management or renewable energy techniques, be sure to mention them! These are not just nice-to-haves but can really set you apart from other candidates. We’d love to see that commitment to the field reflected in your application. If you’ve got any safety training relevant to utilities, make it known!
Flexibility is Key for Temporary Roles:In your application, emphasise your availability and willingness to adapt to different roles or shifts. Since this is a temporary position, showing that you can hit the ground running and adjust to the needs of the team will make you a more attractive candidate to Heathrow.
Tailor Your CV to Shine:Ditch the one-size-fits-all CV approach! Tailor your CV specifically for the temporary role at Heathrow by emphasising skills that align with the job requirements. Be concise, but don’t forget to sprinkle in specific examples related to energy and utilities to make your application stand out. Remember, a well-customised CV speaks volumes!
How to prepare for a job interview at Heathrow
✨Show Your Passion for Sustainability
In the energy-utilities sector, it's key to highlight your commitment to sustainable practices and innovative solutions. Be ready to share examples of how you've engaged with energy efficiency projects or how you stay updated on industry trends. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but genuinely care about making an impact.
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
Temporary roles in energy-utilities often require specific technical knowledge related to energy systems, regulations, and emerging technologies. Make sure you’re familiar with tools like energy management software or simulations. You might get asked technical questions on how to optimise energy use or manage resources efficiently.
✨Flexibility is Key
Since this is a temporary position, the interviewer will likely want to know how quickly you can adapt to new environments and teams. Be prepared to discuss previous experiences where you had to learn on the job or take on new responsibilities swiftly. Highlighting your flexibility will show you're a great fit for short-term projects.
✨Demonstrate Your Teamwork Skills
In the energy-utilities sector, collaboration is essential. Come armed with examples that illustrate how well you work within a team — whether it’s during a challenging project or a routine operation. Temporary roles often involve stepping into existing teams, so showcasing your ability to integrate smoothly will set you apart.
