Senior Category Strategy Lead

At National Grid, our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future is powered by the dedication and ingenuity of our people. Join our team as a Senior Category Strategy Lead and be a part of something bigger—where your unique skills and passions can make a real difference. Together, we are superpowered.

We’re looking for an ambitious Senior Category Strategy Lead to elevate strategic capability within our HVDC Category Team and help future proof National Grid’s supply chain. In this role, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping forward looking procurement and supply chain strategies across our HVDC portfolio—anticipating business needs, navigating an increasingly constrained global supply market, and ensuring we stay ahead of the curve. You’ll bring data driven insight and strategic thinking to identify supply chain risks early, manage capacity and lead times, and influence senior stakeholders across the organisation. Your work will directly support the successful delivery of some of our most critical infrastructure programmes. This is a rare opportunity to play a meaningful role in projects essential to achieving Net Zero. We’re looking for individuals who are passionate about the energy transition and bring strong capability in technical, commercial and/or strategy development. The role is based at our Warwick office, with hybrid working. We’re happy to discuss any additional flexibility in working patterns or requirements that you feel could help to make this job work for you!

What You’ll Do

• Own and evolve HVDC category and procurement strategies aligned to portfolio priorities and Net Zero ambitions.
• Translate market intelligence, supply chain insight and demand forecasts into clear, actionable procurement strategies.
• Identify and manage strategic supply chain risks and opportunities to improve resilience, capacity and value.
• Monitor supplier capability, lead times and market trends, building robust forecasting and scenario planning models.
• Act as a trusted advisor to projects, influencing procurement approaches to align with category strategy and supply chain constraints.
• Collaborate across Project Delivery, Engineering, Finance, Legal and Commercial to deliver compliant, value focused outcomes.
• Provide clear, data driven insights and assurance to senior stakeholders, while building capability and best practice within the team.

What You’ll Have

• A strategic mindset, able to balance long term thinking with practical delivery in complex environments.
• Proven experience in strategy, category management, supply chain, commercial or a related discipline, ideally within regulated or large scale organisations.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to structure, interpret and communicate data effectively.
• Excellent written and presentation skills, translating analysis into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching capability, with experience supporting and developing others.
• A relevant degree (or equivalent); MCIPS and experience in project delivery and/or the energy sector are desirable but not essential.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At National Grid, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.

What You’ll Get

Up to £58,000 dependent on experience. 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.

About Us

National Grid is pioneering ways to decarbonise the energy system; from building interconnectors to allow the UK to share clean energy with our neighbours in Europe, to investing in renewable energy generation in the United States. As one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world, National Grid is at the centre of a clean, fair and affordable energy future, where tackling climate change and reaching net zero is a key priority.

More Information

This role closes on 17 February 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. Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.