Senior Category Manager - Products & Payments
Role OVO-View
Team: Procurement & Supply (Finance)
Experience: Expert
Working pattern: Full-Time
Reporting to: Category Department Lead
Sponsorship: Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
This role in 3 words: Relationships, Commercial, Solutions-orientated
Top 3 qualities for this role: Influence, Self-Solving, Tenacious
Where you’ll work: Depending on the needs of your business area, hub-based employees are expected in the office at least once a week and to attend OVO Connection events in person. You’ll be assigned to the closest hub office (Bristol, Glasgow, or London) unless field-based work is required. Each hub offers accessible spaces to park your laptop and is designed to inspire collaboration and big ideas.
Everyone belongs at OVO
At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. We value diverse people from all abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds.
Teamworking for the planet
Everything we do revolves around Plan Zero. Our procurement and supply work contributes to sustainability and ESG initiatives, ensuring we work with the right partners and manage risks effectively.
This role in a nutshell
We’re hiring a Senior Category Manager to drive strategic procurement for the Products and Payments categories. You’ll oversee the creation and execution of category strategies, foster supplier relationships, and ensure procurement processes deliver maximum value. You’ll mentor and empower a small team, set high standards, and align with OVO’s Plan Zero ambitions, focusing on sustainable and ethical sourcing. You’ll partner with the Commercial Leadership Team (CCO organisation).
You’ll report to the Category Department Lead and contribute to setting objectives, delivering results, managing change, and building a high-performing culture across the team.
Your key objectives include:
* Develop OVO’s supplier ecosystem to drive growth in the Products and Payments categories, sourcing and developing the right supplier partners.
* Lead, mentor, and develop a team of two Category Managers, fostering professional growth and best-in-class procurement practices.
* Oversee robust category strategies to maximize value and mitigate risks, fully aligned to stakeholder objectives.
* Collaborate with the team to execute end-to-end procurement processes for all assigned categories.
* Drive supplier negotiations to secure optimal terms for long-term partnerships.
* Establish a culture of continuous improvement, embedding innovative approaches to category management.
* Monitor supplier performance across categories, ensuring compliance and addressing escalations.
* Standardize processes and promote knowledge sharing across categories.
* Act as a key escalation point for critical supplier or category issues with timely resolutions.
* Align team objectives with sustainability goals and champion ethical sourcing.
* Provide strategic direction to the team, supporting transformation activities and long-term plans.
You’ll also:
* Identify and mitigate risks, balance cost, quality, and speed to market in growth areas.
* Use data-driven insights to inform strategies and maintain visibility of category spend and supplier performance.
* Lead RFx exercises and support project management best practices.
* Present commercial initiatives and procurement outcomes to senior leadership with your team.
* Deliver effective Supplier Management strategies and contract management to reduce risk and ensure performance.
* Enhance procurement tools, processes, and systems using KPIs to drive efficiency.
* Align the team’s efforts with Plan Zero objectives and measurable contributions.
You’ll be a successful Senior Category Manager at OVO if you…
* Navigate ambiguity with sound judgment, adaptability, and problem solving.
* Combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution; at least 5 years in procurement or category management.
* Engage and influence stakeholders across levels to secure buy-in.
* Excel at managing strategic supplier relationships and fostering innovation.
* Have proven leadership in developing high-performing teams.
* Use data to drive value and identify improvements.
* Commit to sustainability and ethical procurement leadership.
* Thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage uncertainty with clarity.
* Collaborate effectively as a team player with pragmatic leadership.
* Possess or be working towards a CIPS qualification (desirable).
* Demonstrate proficiency in procurement systems (e.g., Workday Strategic Sourcing).
* Bring deep sourcing expertise across key categories; energy sector experience is advantageous.
You won’t like this role if you…
* Are uncomfortable leading initiatives with high corporate exposure (C-suite).
* Cannot challenge the status quo effectively.
* Dislike giving and receiving constructive feedback (radical candor).
* Lack strong technical understanding of procurement best practice.
* Cannot work across a wider team or influence multiple stakeholders.
* Lack commercial acumen or fail to spot a good deal.
* Cannot sell and promote procurement benefits to colleagues.
Let’s talk about what’s in it for you
Salary: between £60,000 and £80,000, depending on experience.
We offer a broad pay range to support our zero carbon mission. You’ll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15% and participate in a company-wide bonus plan focused on Plan Zero.
We also provide green benefits and progressive policies, including 9% Flex Pay with 4% auto-enrolled into pension and 5% for benefits, plus options to use Flex Pay for additional benefits, pension top-up, or cash.
Benefits include: 34 days holiday (including bank holidays), healthcare or private medical insurance, life assurance, health assessments, gym membership, travel insurance, dental insurance, and more. There are also home and commuting benefits, such as housing support, EV/green energy discounts, and cycle to work schemes.
For your Belonging
We support an inclusive and diverse workplace through 8 Belonging Networks led by our people. When you join OVO, you can participate in these networks.
Oh, and one last thing...
We’d love to hear from you even if you don’t meet every single box. If you’re interested, please apply. If you have any accessibility needs, share them on the application form.
Location: Any of our offices
Job details: Department and Location as above
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