Category Manager

Our people are what makes Severn Trent a truly exciting and inclusive place to work. We’re a team of over 7,000 people, united by a shared purpose to deliver one of life’s essentials – water – while thriving in a unique and supportive culture.

We’re a growing, Midlands based FTSE 100 organisation and we welcome people from all walks of life. We celebrate individuality, because we know that diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us learn, innovate and better serve the customers and communities we represent.

It’s an exciting time to join us. As we enter our next five year regulatory period (AMP8), we have ambitious plans to deliver bigger and better than ever before. If you’re looking for a challenging, rewarding career where you can make a genuine impact, Severn Trent is the place to be.

We’re looking for a Category Manager to join our Procurement & Contract Management team, leading the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) category. The role can be based at Severn Trent Centre or Raynesway.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Procurement and Contract Management Team is circa. 100 commercial, systems and sustainability professionals based across the region. Operating across the whole commercial lifecycle we ensure that every pound of customers’ money is spent wisely, responsibly and transparently whilst protecting the organisation from risk and helping to achieve business objectives.

This is a high-impact Category Manager role with end-to-end ownership of strategy, supplier relationships and catalogue management. You’ll drive cost savings, standardisation and operational efficiency across a complex, high-volume spend, working closely with engineering and operations teams.

Day-to-day, you’ll:

Lead category strategies, commercial plans and sourcing pipelines for PPE & MRO
Manage spend, ensuring strong contract coverage and forward planning
Build and manage supplier relationships, driving performance and resolving issues
Partner with stakeholders to understand demand and shape early commercial input
Identify and manage market risks, developing clear mitigation plans
Embed sustainability into sourcing and supplier performance
Ensure compliance with processes and systems
Support continuous improvement across the function
Champion health, safety and wellbeing across the supply chain

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE

We’re looking for someone who combines strong commercial capability with the confidence to influence stakeholders and deliver value in a complex environment.

You’ll bring:

CIPS Level 5 (or equivalent) — or the willingness to work towards it.
Strong end-to-end procurement experience across the full commercial lifecycle (category planning, sourcing, negotiation, contracting, supplier performance).
Confident negotiation and influencing skills, with a track record of delivering value and strong outcomes.
Excellent stakeholder management — able to lead conversations, challenge constructively, and build trust across engineering/operations.
Strong analytical skills — able to turn spend/contract performance data into insight and action.
Strong systems confidence (e-procurement and related tools) and the ability to learn new processes quickly.
A proactive, self-starting approach with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to deliver on time and on budget.
A continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to drive positive change.
Ideally, experience working in a regulated (or similarly governed) procurement environment.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent. We’ll reward you for it, too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work, and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the communities where we live.

With that in mind, here are just some of our favourite perks that you’ll get being part of the Severn Trent family:

28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250, subject to eligibility)
Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
Support for your CIPS studies
Dedicated training and development with our Academy
Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
Family friendly policies
Two paid volunteering days per year

WHAT’S NEXT?

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and about five minutes to spare.

If your curiosity has been piqued and you're wanting to find out even more, search #LifeAtSevernTrent on social media.

Ps. we’ll always let you know the outcome of your application after the closing date - so keep an eye on your phone and emails!