At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for low-carbon technologies and manage supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Octopus Energy Group, a leader in renewable technology and energy transition.
- Benefits: Flexible salary, hybrid-remote work, and a culture that values your input.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the energy transition while enjoying autonomy and growth.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a delivery mindset are essential.
- Other info: Recognised as one of the UK's top companies to work for.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Octopus Energy Group, we’re on a mission to make the transition to net zero quicker and more affordable for everyone. We are relentless in our pursuit of efficient, cutting-edge renewable technology, ensuring we deliver the best value to our customers while driving the energy transition forward.
As we scale our installation business, we are looking for a high-energy Procurement Lead to support our Procurement Portfolio Managers across multiple business units. This is a role for someone who thrives on autonomy and enjoys the challenge of delivering at pace. You will join a fast-moving procurement team responsible for sourcing low-carbon technologies at scale, including heat pumps, EV chargers, solar, batteries, and related hardware. Acting as a key link between internal teams and external suppliers, you will help ensure our procurement outcomes support growth, keep installations moving, deliver competitively priced hardware, and build a resilient, reliable supply base.
This is a hands-on role reporting to a Procurement Manager. You will own a defined portfolio of suppliers and categories, with responsibility for day-to-day sourcing and supplier performance. There are no direct reports, but you will have a high degree of autonomy to win. This role is hybrid-remote, it requires the ability to work independently and maintain urgency across tight timescales. Some travel will be required within the UK for internal meetings and supplier visits, focusing predominantly in London and the Midlands.
What you’ll do
- Commercial sourcing: Own end-to-end sourcing across your portfolio of low-carbon technologies, balancing total cost, availability, quality, and delivery risk. Ensure contracts are implemented effectively and support innovation while delivering against agreed commercial and operational terms.
- Supplier relationship management: Manage day-to-day supplier relationships and lead regular performance reviews (including QBRs), acting as the primary escalation point to resolve commercial or operational issues quickly and constructively.
- Portfolio strategy support: Work with Portfolio Managers to ensure portfolio plans are grounded in supply reality. Identify supply risks, constraints, and dependencies early, and help remove bottlenecks that could impact operations.
- Risk & continuity support: Monitor supply risks within your portfolio and support contingency planning where needed to protect delivery and customer outcomes.
- Data & insight: Use procurement and business data to deeply understand spend, supplier performance, impact on profitability and market trends. Go beyond reporting by highlighting risks, opportunities, and supporting better, faster commercial decisions.
What you’ll need
- High autonomy: Comfortable owning a broad remit and managing your workload independently, while knowing when to elevate or seek support.
- Delivery mindset: Able to work at pace in a growing business, managing changing priorities and delivering results in an environment where not everything is fully defined.
- Commercial instinct: A strong understanding of value beyond unit price, including total cost of ownership and the commercial impact of delays, supply risk, and poor execution.
- Communication & negotiation: Confident engaging senior internal stakeholders and suppliers, able to negotiate fairly and handle difficult conversations amicably.
- Operational discipline: Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to see work through from initiation to completion at pace.
Why else you’ll love it here
Octopus Energy Group is a unique culture. An organisation where people learn, decide, and build quicker. Where people work with autonomy, alongside a wide range of amazing co-owners, on projects that break new ground. We want your hard work to be rewarded with perks you actually care about! We were recently named the UK’s top company to work for, and we ranked in the top ten in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.
If this sounds like you then we’d love to hear from you.
Procurement Lead - Low Carbon Technology employer: Octopus Group
Contact Detail:
Octopus Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Lead - Low Carbon Technology
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Procurement Lead role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Octopus Energy Group and their mission. Understand their focus on low-carbon technologies and be ready to discuss how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Procurement Lead, you’ll need to handle tough conversations. Role-play with a friend or mentor to build your confidence and refine your approach before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Octopus team and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Lead - Low Carbon Technology
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Procurement Lead role. Highlight your experience with low-carbon technologies and any relevant procurement skills that align with our mission at Octopus Energy Group.
Showcase Your Autonomy: We love candidates who can work independently! In your application, share examples of how you've successfully managed projects or tasks on your own, especially in fast-paced environments.
Demonstrate Your Commercial Instinct: When writing your application, emphasise your understanding of total cost of ownership and how you’ve navigated supplier relationships. We want to see your commercial mindset in action!
Keep It Clear and Concise: Make your application easy to read. Use bullet points where possible and keep your language straightforward. We appreciate clarity and organisation, so show us you can communicate effectively right from the start!
How to prepare for a job interview at Octopus Group
✨Know Your Low-Carbon Tech
Before the interview, dive deep into the low-carbon technologies relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with heat pumps, EV chargers, and solar technology. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show your genuine interest and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Autonomy
This role requires a high degree of autonomy, so be prepared to share examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed projects independently. Highlight how you prioritised tasks and made decisions without constant oversight.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since you'll be engaging with suppliers and internal stakeholders, brush up on your negotiation skills. Prepare to discuss a time when you navigated a tough conversation or resolved a conflict amicably, showcasing your communication prowess.
✨Data-Driven Insights
The job involves using data to inform decisions, so come ready to discuss how you've used procurement or business data in the past. Be specific about how your insights led to better outcomes, demonstrating your analytical mindset.