At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver category strategies that drive value and resilience in procurement.
- Company: Join Nationwide, a purpose-driven mutual focused on fairer finances.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a competitive pension.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to help you thrive.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while working with innovative suppliers.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in procurement, contract negotiation, and stakeholder management required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Nationwide’s procurement function is undergoing a significant and successful transformation, ensuring we deliver the best possible outcomes for the organisation. Our operating model combines category alignment with strong business partnering, focused on achieving business and member value.
As a Category Sourcing Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how we source, negotiate, and manage supplier relationships. You’ll bring a passion for procurement and a clear understanding of the value it creates—balancing commercial excellence with strong governance and compliance. In this role, you will lead category strategies that optimise cost, mitigate risk, and enable innovation. You’ll work closely with stakeholders across the business, building trusted relationships that deliver tangible benefits. You’ll drive commercial outcomes through effective sourcing, outsourcing approaches, and strategic supplier partnerships, while staying ahead of emerging markets, technologies, and trends impacting financial services. You’ll also champion new ways of working and contracting, creating space for fresh ideas while respecting established processes.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference—bringing new thinking, moving at pace, and helping Nationwide remain resilient and competitive. Your ability to combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery will ensure we achieve the best deals and outcomes for NBS. We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best. At Nationwide, we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK-wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected. For this job, you'll be assigned to our nearest regional hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events in one of our office sites. This is anticipated to be monthly in Swindon, London or Glasgow.
If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.
Responsibilities
In this role, you’ll use your procurement expertise and strong stakeholder relationships to shape and deliver category strategies that drive value and resilience. Acting as a trusted advisor, you’ll bring market insight and supplier innovation to influence decisions and enable smarter sourcing. Your day will involve securing robust commercial agreements that align with risk appetite and deliver the best value for our customers, while building and leveraging supplier partnerships to unlock new opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
You will bring extensive negotiating complex contractual frameworks within the Property & Real Estate space, with deep expertise in balancing commercial, operational, and regulatory considerations while partnering with stakeholders to deliver value, mitigate risk, and drive successful business outcomes. You will be able to work at pace across multiple projects to successfully deliver category strategies. You’ll draft and negotiate complex contracts, manage the contract pipeline, and analyse market trends to inform strategy and optimise outcomes. This is a role where your impact will be clear—optimising costs, mitigating risk, and enabling innovation across the organisation. Join us and help shape the future of procurement at Nationwide, where your expertise will make a real impact.
About you
As a minimum requirement, you’ll bring:
- Deep procurement and supply chain expertise, including category management within Real Estate / Property, contract negotiation, supplier selection, and relationship management
- Commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with a proven track record of delivering value-driven deals within a regulated business environment
- Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, able to build trust and influence at all levels
- An analytical ability to interpret complex data and market insights to drive sound commercial decisions
- Solid knowledge of contract law and risk management, ensuring robust governance and resilience
Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:
- Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
- Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
- Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
- Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes
You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
Qualifications
The extras you’ll get
There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:
- 25 days holiday, pro rata
- Access to private medical insurance
- A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
- Access to an annual performance-related bonus
- Training and development to help you progress your career
- A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
- Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
- Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
- Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society
We forge our own path at Nationwide. As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives. If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us. At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society. We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.
What to do next
If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.
Category Sourcing Manager - Property in London employer: Nationwide Building Society
At Nationwide, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Category Sourcing Manager, you'll benefit from our commitment to employee growth through comprehensive training and development opportunities, alongside a competitive benefits package that includes flexible working arrangements, generous holiday allowance, and access to private medical insurance. Join us in our mission to challenge the financial sector's status quo while making a meaningful impact for our members and communities.
Contact Details:
Nationwide Building Society Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Sourcing Manager - Property in London
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Nationwide Building Society.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Sourcing Manager - Property in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Nationwide Building Society:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Nationwide Building Society. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Nationwide Building Society.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nationwide Building Society
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Nationwide Building Society!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Nationwide Building Society. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Nationwide Building Society's culture.