About

Do you see yourself in a graduate role? Salary: £28,000 plus Veolia Benefits Location: Kingswood, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 8JP Hours: 40 hours per week Programme Duration: 2-year programme starting September 2026 Candidate shortlisting will take place in February 2026, with assessment days taking place in March 2026 When you see the world as we do, you see the chance to help the world take better care of its resources and help it become a better place for everyone. Through our Graduate Programme, you’ll help us to achieve our purpose of Ecological Transformation and build a career we can be proud of. No matter what role you have, when you join us you can play a key role in achieving our vision, and we can make yours happen too. We know that everyone here at Veolia can help us work alongside our communities, look after the environment in small and big ways, and contribute towards our inclusive culture. What we can offer you; 25 days of annual leave Ongoing training and development opportunities, allowing you to reach your full potential Access to our company pension scheme Access to a range of resources to support your physical, mental and financial health; so you can lean on us whenever you need to 24-hour access to a virtual GP, 365 days a year, for you and family members in your household Discounts on everything from groceries to well-known retailers One paid day leave every year to volunteer and support your community Graduate Programme; Our comprehensive Graduate Programme offers hands-on experience working on strategic projects while developing essential personal and professional skills. You'll receive expert training from Veolia's People Development team through monthly sessions at our Kingswood (Cannock) office (travel required), giving you the confidence and capabilities to thrive in your future career. You'll join our supportive graduate network and benefit from mentorship throughout your journey. At Veolia, we're committed to your long-term growth - our continuous development culture means this is just the beginning of your exciting career journey with us. What you'll be doing; Work as a Category Specialist supporting Category Managers in the execution of strategic sourcing initiatives and category strategies Conduct spend analysis and market research to identify opportunities and inform decision making Gather business requirements from stakeholders across the organisation Support contract negotiations and assist in supplier performance reviews Help identify opportunities for value creation and cost savings Develop skills in sourcing, negotiating, contracting, and supplier relationship management Support or lead tender processes and assist with supplier on boarding, progressing from assistance to ownership Support sustainability initiatives within assigned categories, helping to drive supplier diversity and reduce environmental impact across the supply chain What we're looking for; Degree level qualification in any discipline but business or procurement and supply related qualifications are preferred (a minimum of 2:1 to be achieved by Sept 2026) Willingness to travel to training locations and potentially (if in a rotational role) relocate for role requirements Commitment to continuous learning and development A passion for sustainability and ecological transformation Excellent communication and written skills Strong administration skills with keen attention to detail and accuracy We reserve the right to close applications earlier than expected if we receive an exceptionally high volume of submissions. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. What's next? Before we can progress your application to the next stage, you'll need to complete a couple of short strength-based assessments to assess your potential for success in the role against skills, behaviours, personality and motivation – all in one engaging and immersive online experience. If you're successful following this, we’ll then invite you to attend one of our virtual assessment days. Apply today, so we can make a difference for generations to come. We're proud to have been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This consistent recognition reflects our commitment to our people, demonstrating that Veolia is not just transforming the environment, we're also transforming what it means to have a rewarding, purposeful career. We're dedicated to supporting you throughout your application journey, offering adjustments where reasonable and appropriate. As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who opt-in to the Disability Confident scheme, and meet the minimum criteria for our roles. We're also committed to ensuring that all applicants and colleagues receive fair treatment without discrimination on any grounds, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. Ready to see the world as we do? Who is Veolia? Where other people see waste, our community here at Veolia see opportunity. We’re determined to push for ecological transformation through waste, water and energy, and are committed to getting the tough jobs done. And most importantly, we see the potential of every member of our team, and are giving them the chance to realise it with us. Whether it’s their potential, their commitment or their impact, we see it all. And with our values being community spirit, responsibility, innovation, customer focus and respect they keep us focused on those who matter – all 14,000+ of our employees, our customers and our communities too.