Category Manager Support Services and Facilities Management

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it's so much more than that. National Grid provides the environment for our teams to thrive and make a real impact. As we drive momentum in the energy transition for all, we are committed to ensuring that every employee feels empowered and engaged.

Reporting into the Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner for FM & Support Services, the US Facilities Management & Support Services Category Manager is accountable for the development and implementation of category strategies and the management of sourcing delivery across a US and UK portfolio.

The portfolio includes US Facilities Management and associated services such as Security, Facilities, Property and Real Estate, together with Support Services categories across the UK and US, including Print and Subscriptions. These examples are illustrative and the portfolio may evolve in line with business priorities.

The role is based in the US and leads a team operating across both regions. It sets clear priorities, provides commercial direction and assurance, and develops a collaborative cross-regional team capable of delivering value, service quality, compliance, sustainability and supply-chain resilience.

* 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 while identifying opportunities for cross-regional alignment, aggregation, standardization and transfer of best practice.
* Define category scope, demand profiles, supply-market dynamics, commercial opportunities, risks and implementation roadmaps using robust 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 appropriately prioritized, resourced and delivered in accordance with relevant 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, ensuring requirements, evaluation methods, commercial models, contractual positions and recommendations are robust and decision-ready.
* Manage delivery dependencies, risks, issues and stakeholder decisions across regions, intervening and escalating where 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 across Facilities Management and Support Services to improve performance, unlock value, manage risk and drive innovation and continuous improvement.
* Lead, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed team across the US and UK, creating clear accountability, connected ways of working and a strong focus on delivery and stakeholder service.
* Own recruitment and onboarding for vacancies within the team, including role definition, candidate assessment, selection and structured induction across both regions.
* Set objectives and priorities, manage workload and capacity across time zones, and provide regular 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 business stakeholders in both regions, providing clear commercial insight, recommendations, delivery updates and decisions required.
* Collaborate with Procurement Business Partners, Legal, Finance, Risk, Sustainability, Contract Management and specialist Procurement teams across the US and UK.

* 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 of 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, with 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, able to translate spend, demand, market and supplier information into clear 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 of strategic supplier and contract relationship management, driving value, performance, resilience, innovation and continuous improvement.

* Degree level, relevant professional qualification such as CIPS or equivalent experience. Relevant US procurement or supply-management accreditation is advantageous.

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