Category Manager - Technology Services

Job Description

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you'll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here's how:

As an enterprise business OVO's supply chain presents large risk but great opportunity when it comes to sustainability and wider ESG initiatives. Procurement & Supply play a vital role when contributing to OVO's wider Plan Zero aspirations ensuring we're working with the right partners and managing risks appropriately.

This role in a nutshell

We are seeking an exceptional Category Manager to support the Senior Category Manager in the strategic management of the Technology Professional Services procurement category. You will develop and execute category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and oversee procurement processes to deliver maximum value and mitigate risks. Your focus will align with OVO's Plan Zero ambitions, ensuring sustainable and ethical sourcing practices while achieving commercial success.

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you will play a critical role in supporting change, delivering results, and setting standards for the team. You will also collaborate closely with stakeholders across the business to drive projects and enhance supplier performance. Your primary focus will be Technology Professional Services, which is essential to OVO's business and enables the delivery of products and services to our customers. You will also be responsible for sourcing outside the Professional Services category as needed to support our Tech colleagues and other business areas.

We are looking for a strategic thinker to own the Technology Services category, setting the strategic direction and managing its end-to-end execution. This role offers deep category engagement while fostering broad experience across the entire technology portfolio. You will be an essential, flexible team player, frequently collaborating on sourcing projects in other tech areas like Software, where a peer leads the primary strategy. This role combines deep category ownership with a flexible, collaborative team environment, offering exposure to other areas of technology.

Your key outcomes will be

• Ensuring Tech Professional Services are fit for purpose, aligned to OVO's objectives and key results and wider business needs, representing the best value and quality (working in collaboration with the Senior Category Manager).
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes for assigned sub-categories in the technology space, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers to secure favourable terms and cost savings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to drive collaboration and innovation.
• Conduct market analysis to identify risks, opportunities, and trends for assigned sub-categories, feeding into the Technology Spend Category Strategy.
• Monitor supplier / agency performance and collaborate with the business on regular supplier performance reviews.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align spend category objectives with organisational goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement activities.
• Support OVO's sustainability goals through ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.

Additionally, you will:

• Use data to maintain a clear view of technology professional services category spend and suppliers.
• Support category savings opportunity analysis and future pipeline initiatives.
• Execute RFx exercises, guiding stakeholders and ensuring strong project management practices.
• Lead material commercial initiatives, presenting to the C-suite in line with OVO's authority matrix.
• Deliver effective Supplier Management strategies. In life contract management, reducing risk, scope creep, supplier performance and contract exit
• Ensure adherence to procurement & contract policies and monitor compliance.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement tools, processes, and customer journey management.
• Align sourcing activities with OVO's Plan Zero objectives, demonstrating measurable contributions.

You'll be a successful Category Manager - Technology Services at OVO if you...

• Are a strategic thinker with at least 3 years of experience in procurement, supplier management or category management.
• Have strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of delivering material commercial benefits.
• Excel in managing supplier relationships, driving performance, and fostering innovation.
• Are analytical, capable of sourcing and interpreting data to inform decisions.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and ethical procurement practices.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities efficiently.
• Are a team player, working collaboratively with a pragmatic approach.
• Have or are working towards a CIPS qualification (desirable).
• Show an understanding of procurement systems (e.g., Workday Strategic Sourcing).
• Bring experience in sourcing across key subcategories, with exposure to the energy sector being a plus.

You won't like this role if you...

• Are uncomfortable leading on initiatives with high corporate exposure (Head of Departments and Directors).
• Are unable to effectively and constructively challenge the status quo.
• Are uncomfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback (radical candor).
• Do not possess technical understanding of Procurement best practice.
• Are unable to work effectively across a wider team and influence multiple stakeholders with disparate priorities.
• Do not possess strong commercial acumen and an eye for a deal.
• Are unable to effectively sell and promote the benefits of a robust procurement approach to your colleagues and peers.

Let's talk about what's in it for you

We'll pay you between £43,610 and £62,801, depending on your specific skills and experience.

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.