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 an Associate Category Buyer and be a part of something bigger—where your unique skills and passions can make a real difference. Together, we are superpowered.

As an Associate Category Buyer, you’ll play a key role in shaping strategic procurement across our business. Reporting into the Category Manager, you’ll join a dynamic, collaborative team that drives high impact sourcing activity. You’ll partner with the category team to deliver category strategies, support multiple sourcing events, challenge demand, and help set smart, value driven sourcing approaches. You’ll also lead your own sourcing events end to end—taking full ownership from market engagement through to contract award.

This role is based in Warwick with hybrid working. We’re also open to discussing any additional flexibility that helps you thrive and make this role work for you.

What You'll Do:

• Support, manage, scope, and develop multiple strategic sourcing activities within portfolio, from market engagement through to award, working with Senior Category Buyers, Category Managers and with stakeholders to understand and challenge demand and ensure the best possible solutions for National Grid. This includes gathering quotes, comparing costs, and validating vendor proposals.
• Support Senior Category Buyers and Category Manager in developing category characteristics, researching supply markets, suppliers and assessing trends, opportunities and risks. Feedback insights to Category Managers and Senior Buyers to drive the continuous improvement of category strategy and procurement performance.
• Run end to end sourcing processes, including, but not limited to, the development of regional contractual agreements that meet stakeholder expectations and ensuring every purchase delivers quality, consistency, and value.
• Run and manage tender events for key services products, unlocking competitive, high impact solutions for the business.
• Work with contract and programme managers to ensure smooth delivery, strengthen supplier relationships, and spot improvement opportunities.
• Review purchase orders to ensure accurate quantities, pricing, and delivery timelines.
• Identify future business needs and support robust forecasting to maximise long term value.

What You'll Have:

• CIPS qualification (or working towards it) with 1-3 years of hands on experience in strategic sourcing, ideally in services / indirect procurement.
• Strong stakeholder and supplier management skills with the confidence to influence at all levels.
• An understanding of legal documentation and ability to assemble contract packages for execution.
• An understanding of project management principles and ideally evidence of managing multiple projects and consistently delivering outstanding results.
• Basic sourcing concepts (Statement of Word, Change Control Notice, RFQs, cost comparisons, vendor selection criteria).
• Critical and creative thinking, a collaborative mindset, and the resilience and communication skills to thrive in a fast paced environment.
• Excellent customer service and relationship building abilities, enabling credible, positive engagement with stakeholders.
• Strong multitasking and deadline management skills, balancing competing priorities without compromising quality.
• Proven data analysis skills (e.g., Excel, Power BI), with the ability to turn commercial data into actionable insights and develop meaningful KPIs.
  

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 £43,104 per annum – 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.

More Information

This role closes at midnight on 8 May however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

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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.