Category Lead is a key role at National Grid, working closely with suppliers, stakeholders, and procurement colleagues to run higher level bids, negotiate agreements, and spearhead category strategy development, with a focus on driving savings benefits and driving efficiencies.
The individual will work closely with their Category Manager helping direct the team, being a “sounding board”, providing feedback during year end employee reviews, attending senior level meetings and meetings in lieu of the manager. They will take on the role of training, mentoring, driving change, having the pulse of the team, working hand in hand with buyers as needed to enhance their skill set, champion initiatives, etc. In essence the lead will be a Role Model to the team and the second to the manager.
As a key member of our procurement group, they deliver innovative thinking supported by detailed analytics, data science, market research, and subject matter expertise, to help our category teams and stakeholders make effective sourcing decisions. They develop and own key supplier and stakeholder relationships and are 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.
