Category & Sourcing Manager at Southern Water

Lewes, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

06 Mar, 26

Salary

55000.0

Posted On

06 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Procurement, Infrastructure Projects, Public Procurement Regulations, Stakeholder Management, Communication Skills, Strategic Thinking, Cost Optimisation, Value Creation, Project Delivery, Legal Services, Environmental Assessments, Land Acquisition, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Adaptability, Innovative Solutions, Utilities Experience, Engineering Experience

Industry

Utilities

Description

Closing Date 2025-12-08 Role: Category & Sourcing Manager – Major Projects Location: Falmer Contract Type: Permanent Hours: Full Time (Hybrid – 2 days in office) Salary: Up to £55,000 per annum (DOE) There has never been a better time to join Southern Water as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint. (Please note: we are unable to offer sponsorship on this role) Job Overview We’re looking for a strategic and adaptable Category & Sourcing Manager to join our Major Projects Procurement team. This is a unique opportunity to lead procurement for some of the UK’s first-of-a-kind infrastructure projects, including long-term initiatives like Water for Life – Hampshire. Unlike traditional category roles, this position focuses on managing 1–3 major construction projects from start to finish. You’ll be involved in everything from sourcing consultants and legal support to procuring millions of pounds worth of infrastructure. The work is varied, strategic, and impactful. You’ll be responsible for: Developing and delivering category strategies aligned with regulatory and business goals. Leading procurement for enabling activities such as land acquisition, environmental assessments, and legal services. Driving value creation and cost optimisation across the full sourcing lifecycle. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, scientists, and legal experts. Managing stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced, reactive environment. About You You’ll thrive in this role if you: Have experience in procurement for major infrastructure or construction projects. Understand public procurement regulations and large-scale project delivery. Are a strategic thinker with strong stakeholder management and communication skills. Can adapt quickly, think on your feet, and create innovative solutions. Are comfortable working in a reactive environment with long-term goals. Experience in utilities or engineering is beneficial but not essential. What matters most is your ability to navigate complexity, build relationships, and deliver results. Package We are offering a salary of up to £55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience, plus a competitive benefits package including: Generous pension (up to 11% company contribution) 25 days annual leave Life assurance (4x salary) Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months) Health Cash Plan & funded eye tests Two paid volunteering days a year Occupational health service Discounts with over 800 retailers Digital GP service Study support for job-related qualifications Competitive maternity leave & flexible return options Cycle to work scheme Join our Procurement team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to development, our customers, and the environment. Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role? If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com) Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position. Privacy Statement: Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered. #LI-AW1 #LI-Hybrid Our purpose is big. Our impact is huge. And we know that every single one of us has the power, through our actions, to positively change society and the environment for good. It’s why careers with us have real meaning. Because, if you’re driven and ambitious, we can offer you huge opportunities for personal growth, professional development and constant innovation. Forever evolving. Forever focused on doing the right thing, we empower and encourage everyone to play to their strengths and to help us shape a fair and positive future for all. We believe in Water for Life. If you do too, Dive Right In. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position. Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?

Responsibilities

The Category & Sourcing Manager will lead procurement for major construction projects, focusing on sourcing consultants and legal support. They will develop category strategies and drive value creation across the sourcing lifecycle.