Category Manager

When you join EDF Trading, you’ll become part of a diverse international team of experts who challenge conventional ideas, test new approaches, and think outside the box.

Energy markets evolve rapidly, so our team needs to remain agile, flexible, and ready to spot opportunities across all the markets we trade in power, gas, LNG, LPG, oil, and environmental products.

EDF Group and our customers all over the world trust that their assets are managed by us in the most effective and efficient manner and are protected through expert risk management. Trading for over 20 years, it’s experience that makes us leaders in the field. Energy is what we do.

Become part of the team and you will be offered a great range of benefits, which include (location dependent) hybrid working, a personal pension plan, private medical and dental insurance, bi-annual health assessments, corporate gym memberships, an electric car lease programme, childcare vouchers, a cycle-to-work scheme, season ticket loans, volunteering opportunities, and much more.

Gender balance and inclusion are very high on the agenda at EDF Trading, so you will become part of an ever-diversifying family of around 750 colleagues based in London, Paris, Singapore, and Houston. Regular social and networking events, both physical and virtual, will ensure that you always feel connected to your colleagues and the business.

Who are we? We are EDF Trading, part of the EDF Group - a world leader in low-carbon, sustainable electricity generation.

Join us, make a difference, and help shape the future of energy.

Job Description:

Department

Procurement – Finance.

Position purpose

The Category Manager is a newly established role at EDFT, created to support the design and implementation of a centralised procurement function. The role will play a key part in building procurement capability across the organisation, developing and executing category strategies, and driving consistent, value-for-money purchasing practices.

Working closely with stakeholders across the business, the Category Manager will help transition procurement from a decentralised and transactional approach to a structured, strategic function. This includes establishing robust procurement processes, supplier management frameworks, governance controls, and commercial strategies that support EDFT's long-term operational and business objectives.

Main responsibilities

• Support the establishment and adoption of a centralised procurement function across EDFT.
• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with organisational objectives and business requirements.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including market analysis, supplier engagement, competitive tendering, evaluation, and supplier selection.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing structures, and commercial terms to optimise value, minimise risk, and support business objectives.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to understand business requirements and deliver effective procurement solutions.
• Promote compliance with procurement policies, processes, and governance frameworks, influencing positive purchasing behaviours across the organisation.
• Provide guidance and training to stakeholders on procurement best practice and policy requirements.
• Challenge non-compliant purchasing activity and drive adherence to approved procurement processes.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and value creation.
• Support the full contract lifecycle, including contract implementation, performance management, renewal, and exit planning.
• Identify and deliver cost optimisation, efficiency, risk mitigation, and value improvement opportunities.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, supplier developments, and commercial risks to inform sourcing decisions.
• Collaborate with Legal, Contract Managers, Finance, and other business functions to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.

Experience required

• Minimum of five years' procurement experience, ideally within a fast-paced commercial environment.
• Proven experience developing and implementing category strategies, preferably across indirect spend categories.
• Experience designing, implementing, or enhancing procurement processes, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated success in influencing stakeholder behaviour and driving procurement compliance.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience negotiating and managing complex tender processes and supplier relationships.
• Experience assessing and negotiating supplier terms and conditions.
• Experience preparing sourcing strategies, tender documentation, and procurement recommendations.
• Experience within energy, commodities trading, financial services, or another highly regulated and commercially driven sector is desirable.
• CIPS qualification (or actively working towards qualification).

Person specification

• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Resilient and credible, with the ability to challenge constructively and drive change.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Commercially minded with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative approach with a focus on achieving business outcomes and
• building effective working relationships.

Hours of work:

8.30am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

About Us

Our experience is the culmination of everything that's unique about us; our culture, core values, commitment to sustainability and most importantly, our people. EDFT employees are self-disciplined, hard working, inquisitive, trustworthy and truthful. They make choices based on what is best for the team, and live for opportunities to make a difference.

We Encourage Learning & Development

We are committed to equipping our employees with the tools that will enable them to fulfil their job to the highest standard. To that end we offer a wide range of technical and personal development courses both in-house and through third-party providers.

Our Culture

We are proud of our work ethic and cultural diversity. We are high-performing people working together to achieve common goals. Innovative and flexible in our thinking, we are able to adapt and change, which is critical to our success.

Don't take our word for it - here's what our employees say...

"Issues are met with feedback, solutions and discussion. Mistakes at EDFT are seen as experiences not failures."

"It is a fast-paced and dynamic working environment where each day is interesting and challenging. There’s also an incredible pool of talent and skills within EDFT. I’m continuously learning from my colleagues."

"There is no ‘typical’ day. I work on a wide range of compensation, benefit and mobility projects throughout the year. One thing’s for sure though, I’ll have my head in a spreadsheet at some point."