Senior Category Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

We’re hiring for an exceptional Senior Category Manager to lead and develop a team of Category Managers while driving the strategic management of the Operations services procurement category. The category of services you will support include procurement of metering engineering services and energy industry data services.

In this pivotal role, you’ll oversee the creation and execution of category strategies for our Fulfilment and Industry Operations categories, foster internal stakeholder and supplier relationships, and ensure procurement processes deliver maximum value. You’ll also be responsible for coaching and empowering your team, setting high standards, and ensuring alignment with OVO’s Plan Zero ambitions, focusing on sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

You’ll report to the Category Department Lead - Operations and play a critical role in delivering results, managing change, and establishing a high-performing culture across the team. Buying goods & services is an essential part of OVO’s business, enabling the delivery of a range of products to our customers, from marketing campaigns to smart meters and everything in between.

The Team’s objectives include:

• Driving significant commercial benefits to support OVO’s EBITDA targets.
• Reducing risks, driving compliance, and maintaining agility across procurement operations.
• Procuring goods and services sustainably, in alignment with OVO’s Plan Zero.
• Becoming a knowledge base of relevant supply markets, products, technologies, and trends.
• Leading supplier relationships through the contract lifetime, ensuring delivery expectations are met, and rectifying any issues
• Continuously improving commercial value, process efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Effectively partnering with internal stakeholders.
• Supporting the implementation of procurement systems to underpin opportunities while reducing risks and improving compliance.

Your key outcomes will be

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Category Managers - Operations, fostering professional growth and ensuring best-in-class procurement practices.
• Oversee the development and implementation of robust category strategies in the Fulfilment (metering engineering services) and Industry Operations (energy industry data services) business areas to maximise value and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with your team to ensure successful execution of end-to-end procurement processes for your categories.
• Drive supplier negotiations at a strategic level, ensuring favourable terms and long-term partnerships.
• Establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement within the team, embedding innovative approaches to category management.
• Monitor supplier performance across your categories, ensuring compliance and addressing escalations as needed.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and alignment across categories to standardise processes and ensure consistency.
• Act as a key point of escalation for critical supplier or category issues, driving timely resolutions.
• Align team objectives with OVO’s sustainability goals, championing ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.
• Provide strategic direction to the team, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and long-term plans.

Additionally, you will:

• Use data-driven insights to inform team strategies and decisions, maintaining an updated view of category spend and supplier performance.
• Lead by example during RFx exercises, supporting your team in adhering to project management best practices.
• Present material commercial initiatives and procurement outcomes to the C-suite in collaboration with your team.
• Deliver effective Supplier Management strategies. In life contract management, reducing risk, scope creep, supplier performance and contract exit
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for your team, ensuring accountability and success.
• Lead the continuous development of procurement tools, processes, and systems to enhance team efficiency.
• Align the team’s efforts with OVO’s Plan Zero objectives, demonstrating measurable contributions.

You’ll be a successful Senior Category Manager here at OVO if you…

• Are an experienced leader with a track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills to inspire and guide your team while building collaborative relationships across the organisation.
• Are adept at strategic thinking, with at least 5 years of experience in procurement or category management.
• Have exceptional negotiation skills and can lead your team in securing favorable supplier contracts.
• Excel in managing supplier relationships at a strategic level, driving performance and fostering innovation.
• Use data and analytics to make informed decisions, driving value and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Are committed to sustainability and demonstrate leadership in ethical procurement practices.
• Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities with ease.
• Are a team player with a pragmatic approach, balancing leadership and collaboration effectively.
• Have or are working towards a CIPS qualification (desirable).
• Demonstrate proficiency in procurement systems (e.g., Workday Strategic Sourcing).
• Bring deep expertise in sourcing across key categories, with exposure to the energy sector as an advantage.

Let’s talk about what’s in it for you

We’ll pay you between £65,000 and £80,000, depending on your specific skills and experience. If your expectations are a little different, have a chat with us!

We keep our pay ranges broad on purpose to give us, and you, flexibility to match your experience to our zero carbon mission.

You’ll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15%. We have one OVO bonus plan that focuses on the collective performance of our people to deliver our Plan Zero goal.

We also offer plenty of green benefits and progressive policies to help you feel like you belong at OVO…and there’s flex pay. We'll give you 9% Flex Pay on top of your salary – 4% of this is auto enrolled into your pension, and the remaining 5% is yours to do what you like with. You can use this to buy from our extensive range of flexible benefits, including our green benefits which we've put at the heart of our offering, add to your pension or even take it as cash.

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer:

For starters, you’ll get 34 days of holiday (including bank holidays).

For your health

With benefits like a healthcare cash plan or private medical insurance depending on your career level, critical illness cover, life assurance, health assessments, and more

For your wellbeing

With gym membership, travel insurance, workplace ISA, will writing services, dental insurance, and more

For your lifestyle

With extra holiday buying, discount dining, home & tech loans, and supporting your favourite charities with give-as-you-earn donations

For your home

Get up to £400 towards any OVO Energy plan, plus great discounts on solar, smart thermostats and EV chargers

For your commute

Nab a great deal on ultra-low emission car leasing, plus our cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans

Want to hear about our full range of flexible benefits and progressive people policies? Our People Team can tell you everything you need to know.

For your Belonging

To find better ways to support our people, we need to listen to each other’s experiences and find ways to build a truly inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of this, we have 8 Belonging Networks at OVO. Led by our people, for our people - so when you join OVO, you can play a part - big or small - with any of the Networks. It's up to you.

Oh, and one last thing...

We’d be thrilled if you tick off all our boxes, yet we also believe it’s just as important we tick off all of yours. And if you think you have most of what we’re looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit apply. We’d still love to hear from you!

If you have any additional requirements, there’s a space to let us know on the application form; we want to make the process as easy and comfortable for you as possible.