Buyer, Category Management in England

We are seeking an enthusiastic HVDC Category Strategy Lead to strengthen strategic capability within our HVDC Category Team. This role will play a critical part in shaping forward looking procurement and supply chain strategies across National Grid’s HVDC portfolio, ensuring we are one step ahead of business needs in an increasingly constrained and evolving global supply market.

The HVDC Category Strategy Lead will provide data driven insight and strategic thinking to help the team anticipate supply chain risks, manage capacity and lead times, and influence key stakeholders across the business. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of projects critical to achieving Net Zero. Applicants should be passionate about the energy transition and bring one or more of the following capabilities: technical, commercial, or strategy development expertise. This role is based from Warwick and you can enjoy our hybrid working from office and home.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape how National Grid plans, engages with, and supports the HVDC supply chain during a critical period for the UK’s energy transition. You’ll play a central role in influencing future investment decisions while helping to build lasting strategic capability within a growing team.

What success looks like in the first 12 months

• First 3 months - Understand, connect, and set foundations: Builds a strong understanding of the HVDC portfolio, category priorities, supplier landscape, and National Grid governance. Develops effective working relationships with project teams, commercial, finance, legal, engineering, and key HVDC suppliers. Reviews existing procurement strategies, forecasts, data sources, and ways of working, identifying gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities. Gains credibility as a strategic partner by asking the right questions and providing early, thoughtful insights.
• 3-6 months - Shape strategy and add visible value: Plays a leading role in the development or refinement of HVDC category and procurement strategies, grounded in robust supply‑chain intelligence. Introduces improved forecasting, capacity visibility, and lead‑time analysis, enabling earlier identification of risks and constraints. Produces high‑quality strategic papers, data analyses, and recommendations that clearly influence project and portfolio decisions. Actively supports project teams by advising on optimal procurement approaches in line with supply‑chain realities. Strengthens supplier engagement by helping ensure early, structured conversations around future demand and capability.
• 6-9 months - Embed frameworks and influence outcomes: Establishes and plans for improve framework documentation, templates, and tools used consistently across the HVDC category. Helps shift the team from reactive problem‑solving to forward‑looking, scenario‑based planning. Provides trusted, data‑driven input to portfolio reviews, investment cases, and strategic decision forums. Is recognised by stakeholders as a go‑to advisor on HVDC supply‑chain strategy and deliverability.
• 9-12 months - Drive maturity and long‑term impact: Demonstrates measurable improvements in supply‑chain visibility, risk management, and strategic alignment across the HVDC portfolio. Influences procurement strategies that are earlier, more joined‑up, and better aligned to long‑term National Grid objectives. Contributes to building strategic capability within the team, coaching others and sharing best practice. Leaves the team better positioned to anticipate future challenges, not just respond to current ones, supporting successful delivery of National Grid’s long‑term investment programme.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategy & framework development: Support the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of category and procurement strategy frameworks for HVDC equipment and services, aligned to National Grid’s wider portfolio and Net Zero ambitions under the guidance of senior team members. Translate supply‑chain intelligence, market dynamics, and portfolio demand into clear, actionable procurement strategies that support future project delivery. Identify key strategic risks and opportunities across the HVDC supply chain and provide practical recommendations to mitigate risk and enhance value.
• Supply chain intelligence & monitoring: Monitor and analyse supplier capacity, lead times, manufacturing constraints, and market trends to inform proactive planning and decision‑making. Build and maintain robust forecasting, scenario analysis, and demand visibility models, ensuring alignment between portfolio needs and supply chain reality. Work closely with suppliers to enhance strategic relationships, improve transparency, and support early engagement on future requirements.
• Stakeholder influence & assurance: Contribute to project teams, influencing project approaches and choices to align with category strategy and supply chain constraints. Collaborate with stakeholders across Project Delivery, Finance, Legal, Engineering, and Commercial to shape procurement strategies that are compliant, deliverable, and value‑focused. Support portfolio and project reviews by providing strategic insight and assurance on deliverability, supply chain readiness, and procurement approach.
• Data, analysis & documentation: Support the preparation of high‑quality documents, analyses, presentations, and spreadsheets to support strategic decision‑making. Provide clear, data‑driven insights to senior stakeholders, translating complexity into structured recommendations. Support the development of standard templates, tools, and governance approaches that enhance consistency and strategic maturity across the HVDC category.
• Team & capability building: Contribute to the development of a strategic mindset within a young and growing category team.

About You

You will be a strategic thinker who enjoys working at the intersection of data, people, and long‑term planning, with the ability to balance big picture thinking with practical delivery. Curious and proactive learner, driven to explore and understand deliverability issues. Demonstrated solid experience in strategy, category management, supply chain strategy, commercial, or a closely related discipline within complex or regulated environments. Typically, around 4 years’ experience in strategy, category management, supply chain strategy, commercial, or a closely related discipline within complex or regulated environments. Well organized, skilled in collecting, structuring and analyzing data and information effectively. Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, with a willingness to learn from and support colleagues. Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present analysis, research and information clearly and concisely to different audiences. Collaborative team player with experience of working across multidisciplinary teams. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a structured and methodical approach. Good stakeholder management and relationship-building skills. Relevant technical/professional qualifications such as Degree or equivalent in economics, management, business or engineering. MCIPS Qualified or working towards MCIPS is desirable, but not essential. Experience in project delivery and knowledge of the energy sector is desirable.

What You’ll Get

A competitive starting salary between £42,781.00 - £50,738.50 dependent on capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

National Grid touches the lives of almost everyone, with an energy network that stretches across the Atlantic. We’re an international team, and our work underpins the lives of millions of people. Feet forwards, head up, and eyes bright, we’re working hard to create value for people today - and shape the future of energy tomorrow. In the UK, we don’t generate or sell energy - we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.

This role closes on Feb 6th at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. We’re committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.