Commodity Manager

Southern Water; Copythorne; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Commodity Manager to lead the planning and execution of work managed by contract engineers within our region, ensuring on-time delivery and quality. You will manage a team of up to 10 FTEs, oversee a budget of up to £4M, and coordinate with engineers whilst meeting compliance standards.

A full UK driving licence is required and hybrid working is available. This permanent role offers exposure to major investment programmes and opportunities to influence supplier

Qualifications

• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficient in project management tools and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in managing teams and projects in a technical or engineering environment.
• Familiarity with contract management and compliance requirements.
• Relevant qualifications in engineering, management, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning and execution of work managed by contract engineers.
• Ensure that all planned work is completed on time and meets quality standards.
• Coordinate with contract engineers to align project timelines and deliverables.
• Team Management
• To Promote a collaborative and high-performance culture within the team
• Ensure effective allocation and utilization of resources within the budget.
• Monitor expenditures and implement cost-saving measures where possible.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and foster professional development

Skills

Organisational skills

Leadership and team management

Communication skills

Project management tools

Microsoft Office

Analytical and problem-solving

Contract management

Engineering/management qualifications

Education

NEBOSH qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management tools

Job description

Closing Date

2026-09-18

Job Title: Commodity Manager

Location: Within the Southern Water Region (flexible/hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37

Salary: Up to £54,900 based on skills and experience

About the role:

Due to an internal move within our Managed Service Contractor team, we are currently recruiting for a Commodity Manager focusing on managing the planned work of contract engineers, ensuring that all activities align with organizational goals and compliance standards.

You will play a critical role in optimizing supplier allocation and enhancing operational efficiency by overseeing the planning and execution of work managed by contract engineers ensuring that all planned work is completed on time and meets quality standards by coordinating with contract engineers to align project timelines and deliverables.

What you will be responsible for:

Leading and managing a team of up to 10 FTE’s, you will provide direction and support to your team members to promote collaboration and high-performance culture within the team. You will be required to maintain accurate records of work activities and performance metrics and expected to prepare and present regular reports on planned work status and team performance to senior management.

Managing and overseeing budget up to £4M, you will monitor expenditure and utilisation of resources within budget and implement cost saving measures where required.

You must have a full, UK Drivers Licence with access to a vehicle.

• Oversee the planning and execution of work managed by contract engineers.
• Ensure that all planned work is completed on time and meets quality standards.
• Coordinate with contract engineers to align project timelines and deliverables.
• Team Management
• To Promote a collaborative and high-performance culture within the team
• Ensure effective allocation and utilization of resources within the budget.
• Monitor expenditures and implement cost-saving measures where possible.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and foster professional development

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Proficient in project management tools and Microsoft Office applications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience in managing teams and projects in a technical or engineering environment
• Familiarity with contract management and compliance requirements
• Relevant qualifications in engineering, management, or a related field

Desirable:

• NEBOSH qualification

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre‑employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.