Category Manager - Utilities Infrastructure

  • AWE
  • Reading, Oxfordshire
  • Feb 10, 2026
Full time Retail

Job Description

AWE is recruiting a Category Manager (Framework Manager) to get involved in the procurement of categories for Capital Projects to support our utilities Infrastructure.

Salary: from 47,760 (depending on your suitability and level of experience).

Location: Reading (Green Park), with free onsite parking.

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it's not just a job, it's far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

As a Category Manager, you will help shape the wider category strategy for utilities infrastructure and enable the delivery of our strategic frameworks including developing task order agreements with utilities team and supplier negotiation to agree project price and schedule. You will be running tenders up to 50 million pounds within agreed frameworks, and working with the strategic sourcing team to procure complex procurements.

We are ideally seeking individuals with commercial contract management experience, who have public procurement regulations knowledge. You will have an understanding of the end-to-end procurement process, including pre and post contract, and experience of utilising contract management tools such as CEMAR.

To ensure success as a Category Manager, you will ideally have previous experience of NEC 4 contracts, and an understanding of how translate business requirements and will be motivated to drive value for money, applying industry leading contract management techniques to mitigate commercial risk.

Who are we looking for?

We are ideally looking for Category Managers with previous experience of utilities or working in a highly regulated environment and understands the importance of governance is advantageous, but not essential.

Candidates working towards CIPS membership or willing to start training, as part of your ongoing development plan, is preferred.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

  • Developing and maintaining relationships with Suppliers.

  • Understanding the requirements, duties and obligations of AWE under contracts to ensure alignment with the Business' goals and the industry regulations.

  • Supervising contract execution to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines.

  • Monitoring the implementation and performance of KPI's.

  • Obtaining the appropriate governance approvals.

  • Managing and mitigating risks.

  • Creating meaningful relationships with Stakeholders.

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

  • 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

  • Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

  • Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

  • Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

  • Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

  • Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

  • Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

  • Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 2-3 days onsite per week.