Category & Sourcing Manager HR
Job Summary
Closing Date
Job Title: Category & Sourcing Manager (HR & Corporate Services)
Location: Durrington (Worthing)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time (Hybrid 2 days in office) flexible working will be considered
Salary: 55000
About the role
You will join our Procurement team focusing on HR and People-related spend categories. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a broad and strategically important portfolio covering recruitment services benefits occupational health salary sacrifice schemes subscriptions and other HR-aligned third-party spend.
This role has opened up due to an increase in workload.
What you will be responsible for:
You will play a key role in shaping category strategies advising senior stakeholders and ensuring our HR procurement activity aligns with regulatory requirements business needs and market best practice. Typically you will manage a varied pipeline of 45 concurrent projects ranging from one-off tenders to longer-term strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Developing and delivering HR category strategies including market analysis sourcing options and long-term planning.
- Leading tenders and sourcing activity across HR spend areas such as recruitment benefits occupational health and salary sacrifice schemes.
- Managing procurement for corporate services including legal support consultancy and other enabling activities.
- Ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations (including PA23) and internal governance.
- Driving value creation cost optimisation and commercial insight across the full sourcing lifecycle.
- Providing strategic advice to HR and senior leadership teams helping them make informed commercial decisions.
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including HR Finance Legal Digital and external partners.
- Supporting the development of category strategies across the wider procurement function.
- Managing stakeholder expectations at all levels including director-level engagement.
What youll bring to the role:
Essential
- Strong HR category management experience
- Experience running end-to-end tenders and managing multiple concurrent projects.
- Understanding of public procurement regulations and confidence in applying them.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to analyse markets challenge assumptions and propose well-reasoned solutions.
- Ability to build strong relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced reactive environment while keeping long-term goals in sight.
- Ability to work autonomously and bring expertise to the team.
Desirable
- CIPS qualification (or working towards it).
- Experience in utilities or engineering.
- Experience working in a regulated industry
About Southern Water:
Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britains water industry investing significantly to enhance resilience sustainability and service excellence. With 7.8bn planned investment for 202530 this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.
You will be joining at a time of significant change working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact influence major strategic decisions and drive long-term value creation.
Inclusive & Empowering
At Southern Water we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If youre passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team wed love to hear from youeven if you dont tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.
If this role isnt quite what youre looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water you can register your details here: Commitment to Diversity
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds identities and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race ethnicity gender sexual orientation age disability religion or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process please let us know.
Additional information:
In line with Southern Waters security requirements successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity eligibility to work in the UK criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.
Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks including security vetting.
Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting which may involve providing additional documentation.
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Required Experience:
Manager
Key Skills
About Company
Welcome to the Southern Water website. We provide water and wastewater services to East and West Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.