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Posted 05 August, 2026

Category Manager

SGN
Buntingford, ENG, GB Full Time

Job Description

Category Manager (12-Month FTC)

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Flexible across Southern & Scotland SGN Footprint

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£55.5k - £66.7k per annum (dependent on skills and qualifications)

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Full Time | Hybrid

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Joint-contribution pension from 6% (12% total) – Enhanced maternity & family leave – Life assurance – HolidayPlus – Virtual GP & Employee Assistance Programme plus retail and leisure discounts & many more.

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REQ5843

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Do you want to be a part of an innovative and supportive team, where there are great opportunities for career progression and development?

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Our Procurement & Supply Chain (PSC) department is undergoing significant growth within their function and are seeking to recruit an experienced Category Manager, who will support, develop and implement bespoke strategies across both gas and corporate categories.

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Following the initial spend profile analysis, covering £500m per annum of third party spend, you will have the autonomy to use your initiative to identify and deliver industry leading procurement strategies, which will support the delivery of our regulated and not regulated business ambitions.

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As an experienced Category Manager, you will report to the Lead Category Manager and you will be responsible for managing and delivering the execution of various strategic services. The role will be focussed on demonstrating value leadership, customer service and innovation, to support our vision of becoming a world class procurement function.

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Through strategy development and effective sourcing execution, you will be responsible for supporting the delivery of departmental KPIs and objectives such as savings in total cost of ownership, value engineering and driving an improved safety performance across our supply chain

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We deliver safety, warmth, and comfort to homes and businesses. Every role, whether in the office or on the front line, plays a key part in this mission. Here’s how you will contribute…

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  • Regularly liaising with the Lead Category Manager to provide updates on category performance
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  • Provide additional insight through reporting as and when category strategies are developed and implemented
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  • Monitor supplier performance through building supplier relationships, developing robust and agile contract arrangements
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  • Interface with stakeholders to determine future third party spend to develop accurate forecasting of contract renewals
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  • Deliver and mould new category management approaches, across specified portfolios of spend, ensuring compliance, drive efficiencies, mitigate supply risks and drive down the total cost of ownership to the organisation
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  • Lead or manage other procurement specialists to deliver sourcing activities in support of category plans
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You don’t need to be an expert in our Industry… We provide our own specialised learning and development programmes, providing access to learning tools to help you acquire the skills needed to excel in our environment.

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What you will need

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You’ll be an enthusiastic procurement professional seeking a role with high profile, high value category team, working across a broad range of categories of goods, works and services, with the aim to achieve significant value for the business. This is an integral role in the P&SC Team and the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following:

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  • Experience in a procurement environment, specifically being able to demonstrate the delivery of successful category strategies
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  • Spend analytical skills to interpret spend profiles to identify alternative and value-added opportunities
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  • Highly numerate along with highly developed contract / scope drafting and writing skills, ideally with experience gained through interpreting and negotiating complex contracts
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  • Excellent IT skills are essential including knowledge of MS Office applications, eSourcing portals, and purchase to pay systems
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  • Ability to work to tight deadlines, under pressure whilst still delivering quality output and prioritise requirements where necessary. A keen eye to detail is a must as well as the ability to work methodically through a demanding workload
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Not sure you meet every requirement?

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Research shows some people – particularly women and those from underrepresented backgrounds – may hesitate to apply unless they meet every criteria. At SGN, we value diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

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If this role interests you but you’re not sure you tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you. You might be just who we’re looking for – now or in the future.

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Why SGN?

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SGN leads pioneering research and development for a energy system. Our innovative technologies are transforming the gas industry while keeping people safe and warm. We are an award-winning employer, including CCA Gold Awards for Great Places to Work and Inclusivity and Accessibility, and a proud Gold member of the Armed Forces Covenant.

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If you require any accommodations or support during the application process, reach out to us. We're here to help ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for everyone. >

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