We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future.
Join Portsmouth Water as a Category Manager specialising in Engineering and Construction and play a key role in shaping the sourcing strategy for a diverse portfolio of procurement projects.
You’ll lead end-to-end supply chain activity, using market and supplier insights to challenge requirements and drive innovative, value-focused solutions.
Working in a supportive and passionate team, you’ll manage multiple initiatives through agile project delivery, ensuring effective prioritisation and impactful results.
What will you be doing?
Key Responsibilities
* Support development of best practice across the Procurement lifecycle; ensuring the Portsmouth Water processes regularly reviewed and updated.
* Encourage proactive and effective communications to help develop and maintain professional relationships with internal and external customers.
* Promoting and demonstrating continuous improvements to procedures/processes/working practices to enhance the level of service delivery.
* Management of Engineering and Construction Category spend with significant strategic risk to the organisation
* Develop and implement specific demand and category strategies and engage with internal customers to understand requirements, volume demands and specifications.
* Support on all associated commercial activity to achieve value creation and minimise total cost of ownership, including executing the full sourcing lifecycle and deliver against procurement and value management strategies.
* Work collaboratively with business leads to deliver category specific strategies, including sourcing and contracting
* Drive cost reduction through standardisation, aggregation of demand, and actions to minimise tail spend within the category.
* Drive continuous improvement translating external best practices, innovation, and ideas into actionable proposals and plans for the business, building them into category strategies.
* Delivering the effective approach to market, supplier selection and qualification
* Ensuring at all times that utilities procurement regulations and rules, and other regulatory/statutory requirements (including Data Protection and Regulation 31) are observed during sourcing initiatives.
What do you need?
Skills, Qualifications & Competencies
Essential
* Ability to analyse and present complex commercial/contractual data and concepts to a wide range of stakeholders
* Strong organisational skills and able to manage multiple workstreams
* Solid negotiation, influencing and resolution skills
* Outstanding communication skills and customer service ethic. Strong stakeholder engagement capabilities
* Self starter resilient and tenacious under pressure and willingness to develop skills and experience.
* Knowledge of water industry and/or E&C category specific supply chain.
* Experience of strategic sourcing in a multi-stakeholder environment and of working within the multi-disciplinary teams.
* Relevant transferable business and/or supply chain knowledge
* Track record of delivering against stretching target
Desirable
* Excellent proven commercial and contractual acumen
* Knowledge and experience of regulated procurement procedures (either UCR, PCR or PA23)
* CIPS or MCIPS qualified; or alternative qualifications in transferable expertise
* Project management experience or qualifications.
We recognise people want to work in a variety of different ways, and that’s why we’re happy to consider flexible working arrangements. Please feel free to talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may be looking for.
Please note, we may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society.
Please be aware, the Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Due to the high volume of applications we may receive, we’re unable to respond to every applicant individually. If your application is of interest, we’ll usually be in touch within 4 weeks of receiving it.
What can Portsmouth Water offer you?
At Portsmouth Water, we believe in rewarding our people. Here’s just a taste of what’s waiting for you when you join the team:
Holidays Made Better
Enjoy 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, giving you plenty of time to relax, recharge, and explore.
A Pension That Works for You
We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15% because your tomorrow matters as much as your today.
Performance Pays Off
You could earn a non-contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance because when we succeed together, you should benefit too.
Family Comes First
Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
Social Events
All expenses covered summer and winter social events
Peace of Mind, Always
Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.
Comprehensive Wellbeing Support
Whether you need confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, or physical health support via our Virtual GP service (available 8am10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family), help is always close at hand with the HealthHero app.
Additional Support When You Need It
We know life has its ups and downs. That’s why we offer Private Medical Insurance - provided by Bupa giving you access to expert healthcare and 24/7 confidential support.
PW Perks Treat Yourself!
Enjoy exclusive discounts at thousands of retailers, plus exciting benefits like:
* Electric Vehicle Scheme (after 1 year)
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Health Cash Plan
and so much more!