Head of Category-Hardware and Networks

THIS ROLE IS HEAD OF CATEGORY AND PROCUREMENT FOR HARDWARE AND NETWORKS and can be located in MA or NY

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.

To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Reporting into the VP Procurement Group IT & Indirects, the Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner for Infrastructure, Hardware and Networks & Telecoms is accountable for a suite of dedicated multi-million (/$) IT categories which includes end to end ownership of strategy, market insights and risk management, strategic sourcing through to contract management. This is combined with their role acting as a strategic business partner for the Information Technology & Digital (IT&D) Function where they will engage and drive the senior level relationship and desired Business Unit (BU) procurement outputs.

As a Business Partner, they act as the procurement interface, supporting the Strategic Business Partner engagement with IT&D Executives and their Senior Leadership Team. Through this, they will work with the Executives to align Procurement activities with operating priorities, influence behaviours and deliver leading financial and performance objectives.

The Head of Category & Procurement Business Partner - Infrastructure, Hardware and Networks & Telecoms is responsible for co-ordinating across the relevant Procurement teams to ensure they can provide IT&D Function updates, insight and recommendations as required. They will engage and drive strategic relationship with category critical suppliers, implement vendor and contract management strategies and ensure the supply chain is engaged and enabled to meet the business needs.

Working effectively across the internal procurement teams to build deep category expertise in supply chain, risk identification and mitigation, sustainability and diversity strategies whilst ensuring compliance and benefit delivery. As part of the Procurement leadership team, you are accountable for recruiting, retaining, building capability and leading a high performing procurement team.

• Support the Strategic Business Partner to engage and where appropriate directly lead the strategic relationship with the IT&D Function, to ensure their procurement and supply chain needs are delivered in line with business requirements.
• Develop and lead a comprehensive suite of category strategies for Infrastructure and Hardware (e.g.,Data Centers, Managed Workplace, laptops, servers, peripherals) and Networks and Telcoms (e.g.,WAN, LAN, routers, switches, telecommunications - mobile voice and data) providing market capability and capacity intelligence, ensuring that maximum value is realised from the significant procurement spend, whilst securing supply, managing supply chain risks, and achieving sustainability objectives.
• Aligned to your category ownership, develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuous improvement, security of supply and value delivery.
• Accountable for the development and implementation of procurement strategies and execution of the procurement priorities for the IT&D Function. Providing strategic and commercial insight, supply chain sustainability insight, and supply chain risk and mitigation recommendations.
• Ensure rigorous management of contracts throughout their lifecycle (incl. implementing corrective actions when necessary) leaning on support from dedicated contract management resource pools if relevant.
• Work across teams and sub-functions within Procurement to support overall category management effort (e.g., Sustainability, SC Risk & Transparency, MSD, SE)
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the Infrastructure, Hardware and Networks & Telecoms category, including supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and quality issues.
• Lead a highly motivated, innovative and value-focused team, developing talent and a performance management culture that drives value through employee engagement which successfully meets or exceeds all strategic objectives for the area
  

• Previous procurement experience in multi-country environments, delivering category excellence, levers across multiple IT category areas.
• A good understanding of the external market-place, current solutions, market leaders and innovations that are driving change in the technology space.
• Experience of broad, supply chain management in complex, global enterprise environments.
• Ability to communicate dynamically at all levels within National Grid and externally to senior leaders within supplier organizations.
• Experience in building high performing teams.
• Track record of driving strategic change through category intelligence.
• Good understanding of broader business objectives and the implications of strategic planning and actions within the category on the regional/global businesses.
• Expert influencing and negotiation skills to drive optimum value through the award of commercially sound contracts.
• Relationship management experience, driving commercial value and performance through major contracts.
• Appetite to comprehend utilities and relevant procurement activities, including UK utility and contract regulations and 2025 Procurement Act.
• Degree level or equivalent experience.

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