Buyer, Category Management

natgridProd•Waltham, MA

1d•$73,000 - $102,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At National Grid we are committed to delivering safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we serve. We are one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We are proud of the contributions our work and our people make to the prosperity and wellbeing of our customers, communities, and investors. National Grid has embarked on ambitious capital projects and construction program designed to build the infrastructure to enable our renewable electric future. Projects include upgrades to transmission lines, substations and distribution network infrastructure that will support renewable energy and reliability initiatives and other programs. National Grid has a focus on providing electricity and gas to millions of its existing customers, by continuously updating its infrastructure to provide the most safe and reliable system.About the RoleThe Buyer role at National Grid, works with suppliers, stakeholders, and procurement colleagues to run bids, negotiate agreements, and participate in category strategy development, further assisting senior and lead buyers on the team. Participate in and develop supplier and stakeholder relationships and able to evaluate supplier risks and develop mitigation plans. Through business partnering the procurement group enhances the relationship and through collaborative efforts bridges the gap of applying critical thinking, helping drive the goals of the company forward, providing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and risk mitigation efforts, while further evaluating our supplier base.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (B.A or B.S) required; in supply chain or business management degree preferred, masters degree, CPSM/APICS certifications a plus
3+ Years experience in a procurement role
$3 – 5M spend range with contract and framework/multiyear agreements
Basic experience in strategic sourcing, contract negotiations and vendor management a plus, as is working knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP and ARIBA. Also, working knowledge of Power Bi, etc.
Analytical mindset, with a proficiency in Excel (vlookup functions, pivot tables, basic modeling, data cleansing)
Ability to create clear, concise visuals and reports to translate data into insights for stakeholders, with strong attention to detail with the ability to validate, reconcile, and troubleshoot data issues
Ability to communicate analytical findings in a clear, business-friendly manner
The candidate must have strong interpersonal skills, specifically in communications across a multi-national and matrixed organization.
Candidate should be proficient in planning, project management, stakeholder engagement, and business analysis
Ability to clearly articulate one’s position and be able to influence others
An equivalent combination of education and extensive subject matter expertise along with procurement process experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education requirements listed above

Responsibilities

Category Management: --Have the ability to work collaboratively amongst peers while also think independently, bringing viable solutions to the forefront that are actionable--Supplier Engagement - Engage with suppliers to seek feedback, discuss improvement opportunities, resolve issues (while understanding when it is necessary to elevate these issues to the next tier of management to aid in resolving) , be abreast of supplier performance and alignment with National Grid's objectives--Analytics - Utilize varied data sets to identify gaps and new opportunities to drive benefits through the contracts End to End lifecycle, while implementing analytics as part of the Category Plan--Market Research - Conduct industry analysis and evaluate supplier performance, incorporating the research into the Category Strategy and associated contract initiatives/bidding events Procurement/Strategic Sourcing Process (SSP)
Source Events (RFx, Sole Source, direct negotiate) – Leads the execution of multiple sourcing initiatives using tailored procurement strategies to optimize value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives--Stakeholder Coordination - Develops and maintains relationships with business units and suppliers, while furth understanding the needs and issues that each side faces. At times acting as the interface/bridge between both parties--Bid Analysis - Analyzes responses to bid requests, points out commercial differences, and makes recommendations in selecting appropriate suppliers for contract awards--Total Cost of Ownership - Evaluate and apply the concept of total cost of ownership (TCO) and supplier/ contract switching costs to support decision making options--Commercial Negotiation - Capable of preparing negotiation strategies with clarity of desired outcomes and conducting complex negotiations successfully under aggressive time demands--Understanding Counterparty - Has comprehensive understanding of supplier's position, desired outcomes, and leverage points with the ability to maximize the benefits to the company while maintaining a good working relationship with suppliers--Build KPI – Work with senior buyers and contract management to evaluate and build appropriate supplier performance measurements (KPls) into contractual frameworks Supplier Relationship Management
The Buyer will regularly engage with category suppliers to seek feedback, discuss improvement opportunities, and resolve issues, ensuring continuous enhancement of supplier performance and alignment with National Grid's objectives Reporting and Analytics
Prepare and maintain weekly/monthly category dashboards tracking spend, savings, supplier performance, and pipeline activity.
Analyze spend data to identify opportunities for consolidation, compliance improvements, or cost reduction.
Support development of category strategies by conducting market analysis, benchmarking, and supplier‑level analytics.
Build and refine reports that track contract expirations, sourcing events, demand forecasts, and risk indicators.
Extract, clean, and interpret data from procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba, Coupa, Oracle, Power BI) to support decision‑making.
Conduct variance analysis to explain changes in spend or performance versus budget, forecast, or prior periods.
Track benefits, savings, cost avoidance, and value delivery using standardized reporting templates.
Drive Value - Demonstrates a collaborative approach with supply base and develops integrated plans to drive appropriate value for business and customer requirements
Source Events (RFx, Sole Source, direct negotiate) – Leads the execution of multiple sourcing initiatives using tailored procurement strategies to optimize value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives--Stakeholder Coordination - Develops and maintains relationships with business units and suppliers, while furth understanding the needs and issues that each side faces. At times acting as the interface/bridge between both parties--Bid Analysis - Analyzes responses to bid requests, points out commercial differences, and makes recommendations in selecting appropriate suppliers for contract awards--Total Cost of Ownership - Evaluate and apply the concept of total cost of ownership (TCO) and supplier/ contract switching costs to support decision making options--Commercial Negotiation - Capable of preparing negotiation strategies with clarity of desired outcomes and conducting complex negotiations successfully under aggressive time demands--Understanding Counterparty - Has comprehensive understanding of supplier's position, desired outcomes, and leverage points with the ability to maximize the benefits to the company while maintaining a good working relationship with suppliers--Build KPI – Work with senior buyers and contract management to evaluate and build appropriate supplier performance measurements (KPls) into contractual frameworks