Senior Category Manager - Marketing & Corporate Services

Join to apply for the Senior Category Manager - Marketing & Corporate Services role at OVO

Senior Category Manager - Marketing & Corporate Services

Join to apply for the Senior Category Manager - Marketing & Corporate Services role at OVO

Location: Hub based! Bristol or London

But you have the flexibility to work wherever suits you best

Team: Procurement & Supply (Finance)

Salary banding: £65,000k - £80,000k

Experience: Manager

Working pattern: Full-Time

Reporting to: Category Department Lead

Sponsorship: Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

This role in 3 words: Driving, Relationships, Commercial

Top 3 qualities for this role: Influence, Self-Solving, Strategist

In the words of the team, you should leave your current role for this one because….

"OVO is a fantastic place to work. The company really cares for its people which makes you want to go the extra mile. There is a reason that OVO won Times best place to work! The Procurement & Supply team is on a really exciting journey and it's not every day you get the ability to actively participate in a team transformation! OVO felt like home to me after just 2 weeks and I put that down to having such a great team around me"

Where you’ll work:

Depending on the needs of your business area, we expect hub based people to be in the office at least once a week, and to go to OVO Connection events in-person.

You’ll be assigned to the closest one of our hub offices, Bristol or London; unless your role requires field-based work. Each hub has accessible spaces to park your laptop, is designed to inspire people, help them connect and bring big ideas to life.

Everyone belongs at OVO

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you’ll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here’s how:

As an enterprise business OVO’s supply chain presents large risk but great opportunity when it comes to sustainability and wider ESG initiatives. Procurement & Supply play a vital role when contributing to OVO’s wider Plan Zero aspirations ensuring we’re working with the right partners and managing risks appropriately.

This role in a nutshell:

You will be responsible for driving the sourcing strategy and plan across both marketing (media buying, direct marketing, creative & content production, sponsorships, print & PR) and corporate services (consultancy, professional services, people services and travel) supported by one direct report. You will be delivering exceptional stakeholder management to the VP of Corporate Affairs & Marketing, the Brand and Marketing director and the People & Finance teams, aligning OVO’s supply chain to the business strategy and objectives.

In this pivotal role, you’ll oversee the creation and execution of category strategies, foster supplier relationships, and ensure procurement processes deliver maximum value with our agencies and suppliers. You’ll also be responsible for mentoring and empowering your direct report, setting high standards, and ensuring alignment with OVO’s Plan Zero ambitions, focusing on sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

You’ll report to the Category Department Lead and play a critical role in delivering results, managing change, and establishing a high-performing culture across the Procurement and Supply team.

The Team’s objectives include:

• Driving significant commercial benefits to support OVO’s EBITDA targets.
• Reducing risks, driving compliance, and maintaining agility across procurement operations.
• Procuring goods and services sustainably, in alignment with OVO’s Plan Zero.
• Becoming a knowledge base of relevant supply markets, products, technologies, and trends.
• Leading supplier relationships through the contract lifetime, ensuring delivery expectations are met, and rectifying any issues
• Continuously improving commercial value, process efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Effectively partnering with internal stakeholders.
• Supporting the implementation of procurement systems to underpin opportunities while reducing risks and improving compliance.
  
  

• Ensure marketing and corporate service solutions are fit for purpose, aligned to OVO’s brand and business needs, and represent the best value and quality
• Leading and developing a direct report to support on designated sub-categories
• Oversee the development and implementation of robust category strategies to maximise value and mitigate risks in the marketing space.
• Collaborate with the wider OVO team to ensure successful execution of end-to-end procurement processes for all assigned categories.
• Drive supplier negotiations at a strategic level, ensuring favourable terms and long-term partnerships with agencies and suppliers.
• Establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement within the team, embedding innovative approaches to category management.
• Monitor supplier performance across all categories, ensuring compliance and addressing escalations as needed.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and alignment across categories to standardise processes and ensure consistency.
• Act as a key point of escalation for critical supplier or category issues, driving timely resolutions.
• Align team objectives with OVO’s sustainability goals, championing ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.
• Provide strategic direction to the team, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and long-term plans.
  
  

• Use data-driven insights to inform team strategies and decisions, maintaining an updated view of category spend and supplier performance.
• Lead by example during RFx exercises, supporting your team in adhering to project management best practices.
• Present material commercial initiatives and procurement outcomes to the C-suite / VP level / Director stakeholders in collaboration with your team.
• Deliver effective Supplier Management strategies. In life contract management, reducing risk, scope creep, supplier performance and contract exit
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for your team, ensuring accountability and success.
• Lead the continuous development of procurement tools, processes, and systems to enhance team efficiency.
• Align the team’s efforts with OVO’s Plan Zero objectives, demonstrating measurable contributions.
  
  

• Bring deep expertise in sourcing across the Marketing category
• Are an experienced leader with a track record of being part of and developing high-performing teams or are an experienced and high performing Category Manager looking to make the step up
• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills to inspire and guide your team while building collaborative relationships across the organisation.
• Are adept at strategic thinking, with at least 5 years of experience in procurement or category management with some of that experience in the marketing category
• Have exceptional negotiation skills and can lead your team in securing favorable supplier contracts.
• Excel in managing supplier relationships at a strategic level, driving performance and fostering innovation.
• Use data and analytics to make informed decisions, driving value and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Are committed to sustainability and demonstrate leadership in ethical procurement practices.
• Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities with ease.
• Are a team player with a pragmatic approach, balancing leadership and collaboration effectively.
• Have or are working towards a CIPS qualification (desirable).
• Demonstrate proficiency in procurement systems (S2P / P2P specialist software).
  
  

• Are uncomfortable leading on initiatives with high corporate exposure (Director / VP / C-suite)
• Are unable to effectively and reasonably challenge the status quo
• Are uncomfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback (radical candor)
• Do not possess strong technical understanding of Procurement best practice
• Are unable to work effectively across a wider team and influence multiple stakeholders constructively
• Do not possess strong commercial acumen and an eye for a deal
• Are unable to effectively sell and promote the benefits of Category Management to your colleagues and peers
  
  

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Marketing and Sales

• Industries

  Utilities and IT Services and IT Consulting

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