At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies and manage sourcing activities for operational goods and services.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in transforming the water industry for a sustainable future.
- Benefits: Up to £55,000 salary, flexible working, and excellent benefits.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to innovation and making a generational difference.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 € per year.
Location: Durrington, Worthing (Hybrid – 2 days per week on site)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options considered
Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum + excellent benefits
About the role:
There’s never been a more exciting time to join Southern Water. We’re on a mission to create a more sustainable and resilient future – tackling climate change, reducing our carbon footprint, and delivering long‑term value for our customers and communities. As part of this journey, we are strengthening our Procurement Division and investing in talent that can influence change at scale. We’re now looking for a Category & Sourcing Manager (Operations) to support our operational teams by delivering effective, compliant, and value‑driven procurement solutions across goods and services critical to our asset base.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of operational procurement categories, running multiple sourcing activities in parallel and working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure Southern Water achieves the best possible commercial and sustainability outcomes.
What you will be responsible for:
- Developing and delivering category strategies aligned to operational and organisational objectives
- Managing end‑to‑end sourcing activities, including tendering, evaluation, and contract award across operational goods and services
- Partnering with stakeholders across operations to understand demand, challenge requirements, and shape effective sourcing solutions
- Driving value through cost optimisation, standardisation, and demand aggregation, while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations
- Managing supplier relationships to support performance, resilience, and continuous improvement
- Championing best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement within the procurement function
What you’ll bring to the role:
Essential
- Proven experience in a Category or Sourcing role within an operational, engineering, manufacturing, construction, or asset‑focused environment
- Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations, including PA23 (experience with UCR is also advantageous)
- Experience running multiple procurement exercises concurrently and managing competing priorities
- Confident stakeholder management and negotiation skills
- A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with strong commercial and analytical capability
Desirable
- CIPS qualification (or working towards)
- Experience procuring operational goods, equipment, hardware, or services within a regulated environment
About Southern Water:
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, with £7.8bn of planned investment for 2025–2030 to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. This is a unique opportunity to join a business committed to making a generational difference in how water services are delivered. You’ll be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside experienced leaders with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where talented professionals can influence important decisions, develop their careers, and make a meaningful impact.
At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a difference and feel you could add value to our team, we’d love to hear from you – even if you don’t tick every box.
Our Commitment to Diversity:
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Additional information:
In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to undertake pre‑employment checks, including identity verification, right‑to‑work checks, DBS, and employment/education history verification.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Join our Procurement team and help us deliver smarter, greener solutions for the future. Apply today and see how far your career can go with Southern Water—where innovation meets impact.
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com)
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
Privacy Statement:
Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.
Category Manager in Worthing employer: SouthernWaterServices
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Durrington, Worthing, where you can contribute to meaningful sustainability initiatives while enjoying flexible working options. With a strong commitment to employee development and a culture that values diverse perspectives, you'll have the opportunity to influence significant decisions and advance your career in a supportive atmosphere. Join us to be part of a team dedicated to delivering innovative solutions for a resilient future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager in Worthing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Category Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Southern Water’s mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise answering common interview questions, especially around procurement strategies and stakeholder management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Bring along examples of your past successes in category management or sourcing. Whether it’s a presentation or a portfolio, having tangible proof of your achievements can really set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Southern Water team and making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager in Worthing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Category Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement and how it aligns with Southern Water's mission. We want to see how you can contribute to our goals!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past roles that showcase your stakeholder management, negotiation skills, and ability to run multiple procurement exercises. This is your chance to shine!
Be Authentic:We love genuine candidates! Share your passion for sustainability and how you can make a difference at Southern Water. Let us know what drives you and why you’re excited about this opportunity.
Apply Through Our Website:To ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at SouthernWaterServices
✨Know Your Categories
Before the interview, dive deep into the specific categories you'll be managing. Understand the current trends, challenges, and opportunities within those categories. This will not only show your expertise but also your genuine interest in the role.
✨Master Stakeholder Management
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed stakeholders in previous roles. Think about times when you had to negotiate or influence decisions. Being able to articulate these experiences will demonstrate your strong interpersonal skills, which are crucial for this position.
✨Showcase Your Compliance Knowledge
Brush up on public sector procurement regulations, especially PA23. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated compliance in past roles. This will highlight your understanding of the regulatory landscape and reassure them that you can handle the complexities of the role.
✨Bring Solutions to the Table
Adopt a proactive mindset by preparing to discuss potential improvements or innovations you could bring to their procurement processes. This shows that you're not just looking to fill a role, but are genuinely interested in driving value and continuous improvement.
