Job Introduction

In Network Rail, a Category Manager provides strategic direction – commercially, yes, but also on improvements to how the business works. We do not source or manage suppliers. Our strategies are implemented by other teams, so we move from one category to the next, continually providing that strategic support to Network Rail. If you are someone who looks past today’s tactics and thinks about what you could do tomorrow, then this could be the role for you.

The Category Management Team is a diverse team and we’re looking for someone with a good sense of humour to fit in with us and have fun along the way; if you join, our current team will support you to create your first strategies. The processes, templates and systems will be provided as guides, and you will need to apply your strategic nous on top. In return for our support, we’re looking for a caring, supportive person who will use their skills to:

• collaborate with everyone and support other team members;
• lead by example and always maintain the moral high ground;
• be interested and take part;
• be keen to develop and learn new skills;
• help us achieve our targets as a team.

Understanding your customer’s needs will put you in the best place to create new strategies. We want new ideas to help us:

• improve safety – everyone home safe every day;
• be more sustainable;
• be more efficient – reduce the burden on taxpayers;
• save time on jobs – more time to do new and better things.

To help you find out more about the role we have created a candidate pack, attached below, which gives you an insight into what it’s like to work at Network Rail including our purpose, our culture and values, pay and benefits, learning and development and how we create an inclusive environment for all. 

And hear what some of our brilliant team members think about Network Rail in this video 

For full details of what you’ll be doing and the skills and experience you’ll need, please see the attached job description.

Click ‘apply for this job’ to apply. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team, please contact Emily.Smith3@networkrail.co.uk

Main Responsibility

For information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please find the full job description attached below.

The Ideal Candidate

For information regarding the essential criteria of this role, please find the full job description attached below.

Package Description

Vacancy type: Permanent

Location: Nationwide

Closing date: 5th June 2024

Band & Salary: Band 3C (£55,596 - £62,546)

We want to ensure all applications are reviewed in a fair and diverse manner, therefore all applications against this role are anonymised. Please ensure you fill in the profile builder to ensure you have a good opportunity to be taken forward to interview stage.

This is a Category Manager role with the focus on developing Commercial Strategy. We are looking for passionate individuals who have Category Management and/or Category Strategy experience with the ability to work collaboratively and influence stakeholders to work towards developing Category plans for improved commercial outcomes. 

Are you always thinking of new and better ways of doing things? Do you look beyond what you are doing today and think about what could be possible?

If you thrive on using your own initiative, have great people skills and like to deliver great customer service, read on.

Open the Candidate Pack attached below to find out more or hear what some of our brilliant team members think about Network Rail in this video

About the Company

At Network Rail, we own, repair and develop the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. We exist to get people and goods where they need to be and to support our country’s economic prosperity. Rail is already the greenest form of public transport and we’re on a journey to a cleaner, greener future.  

We’re an organisation where people matter. We matter to millions.

We offer excellent benefits, including:

• Flexible working patterns such as working from home and working compressed hours
• A range of pension schemes
• Healthcare Benefits
• Rail and underground season ticket subsidies up to 75%
• 75% discount on leisure travel that can also be used by your immediate family members.  
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and volunteering days (5 days)
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• GymPass – Access to gyms across the UK
• Access to ‘My Benefits’ portal which include discounts in food, technology and experience days

In 2023, we achieved Stonewall Top 100 Employer status.

Discover the best employers for LGBT people in 2022. The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list is compiled from the Workplace Equality Index – the UK’s leading benchmarking tool for LGBT inclusion.

We are committed to a diverse workplace enriched with representation from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and skills. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where difference is embraced, and individuals can thrive. We recognise that the success of the team is dependent on a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined group of individuals, aligned to deliver successful solutions.

We're undertaking an ambitious change. Our vision is Putting Passengers First - becoming a company that is on the side of passengers and freight users. As one of the UK’s leading equal opportunities employers, our values and the way we behave is important to us and we have created an environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution. We have seven employee networks that provide fantastic support, opportunities and development for applicants from all backgrounds. Click here for more information 

Please note, all prospective external candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on the Sentinel database and will incur a five-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification, or a key safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure.

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd