Category Manager Support Services and Facilities Management

natgridProd•Waltham, MA

2d•$131,000 - $184,000•Hybrid

About The Position

National Grid is seeking a US Facilities Management & Support Services Category Manager to develop and implement category strategies and manage sourcing delivery across a US and UK portfolio. The portfolio includes US Facilities Management and related services such as Security, Facilities, Property and Real Estate, as well as Support Services categories across the UK and US, including Print and Subscriptions. The portfolio may change in line with business priorities. Based in the US, the role leads a team operating across both regions. It establishes priorities, provides commercial direction and assurance, and develops a collaborative cross-regional team focused on value, service quality, compliance, sustainability and supply-chain resilience. The position reports to the Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner for FM & Support Services.

Requirements

Significant procurement experience, with a strong record of developing and implementing category strategies and leading complex sourcing portfolios.
Demonstrable category management experience across Facilities Management, Property, Real Estate, Security, Support Services or comparable indirect-services categories.
Experience leading and developing geographically dispersed or cross-regional teams, including recruitment, onboarding, coaching and capability development.
Ability to build effective relationships and influence senior stakeholders across different businesses, regions and operating environments.
Strong program and portfolio-management capability, including experience managing multiple sourcing activities, priorities, dependencies and governance requirements.
Commercial expertise across sourcing strategy, tender design, evaluation, negotiation, contracting, supplier performance and value realization.
Strong analytical capability, including the ability to translate spend, demand, market and supplier information into category choices and recommendations.
Ability to identify and manage supply-chain, commercial, compliance, operational and delivery risks, including differences between US and UK market and regulatory contexts.
Experience in strategic supplier and contract relationship management, driving value, performance, resilience, innovation and continuous improvement.
Degree-level education, a relevant professional qualification such as CIPS, or equivalent experience.
Ability to work without current or future visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Relevant US procurement or supply-management accreditation.

Responsibilities

Own the development, approval, implementation and ongoing refresh of category strategies across the assigned US and UK Facilities Management and Support Services portfolio.
Build category plans that reflect regional business requirements and identify opportunities for cross-regional alignment, aggregation, standardization and sharing best practice.
Define category scope, demand profiles, supply-market dynamics, commercial opportunities, risks and implementation roadmaps using spend, market and supplier intelligence.
Translate category strategies into prioritized and resourced sourcing and contract-management plans with clear outcomes, milestones, governance and ownership.
Lead the sourcing delivery portfolio, ensuring activity is prioritized, resourced and delivered in line with applicable US and UK governance, policies and regulatory requirements.
Provide commercial direction and assurance across sourcing strategy, market engagement, tendering, evaluation, negotiation, approval, contracting and award.
Review and assure key sourcing outputs, including requirements, evaluation methods, commercial models, contractual positions and recommendations.
Manage delivery dependencies, risks, issues and stakeholder decisions across regions, intervening and escalating when necessary to protect outcomes and timescales.
Ensure effective handover from sourcing into mobilization and contract management, with clear obligations, performance measures, governance and value-realization plans.
Lead strategic engagement with critical suppliers to improve performance, unlock value, manage risk, and drive innovation and continuous improvement.
Lead, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed US and UK team, establishing accountability, connected ways of working and a focus on delivery and stakeholder service.
Own recruitment and onboarding for team vacancies, including role definition, candidate assessment, selection and structured induction.
Set objectives and priorities, manage workload and capacity across time zones, and provide coaching, feedback, development and succession support.
Build team capability in category management, strategic sourcing, commercial analysis, negotiation, stakeholder engagement and supplier management.
Act as a senior Procurement partner to stakeholders in both regions, providing commercial insight, recommendations, delivery updates and required decisions.
Collaborate with Procurement Business Partners, Legal, Finance, Risk, Sustainability, Contract Management and specialist Procurement teams across the US and UK.