Procurement Business Partner

TN United Kingdom; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading water services provider as a Procurement Business Partner, focusing on corporate services or plant and equipment. This role involves strategic procurement, supplier management, and collaboration across teams. Enjoy competitive salary and excellent benefits while contributing to sustainability goals.

Benefits

Generous Holiday Allowance

Discretionary Bonus

Pension

Share Schemes

Health Benefits

Wellbeing Programs

Cycle-to-Work

Financial Services

Qualifications

• Strong commercial and strategic mindset required.
• Experience in supply chain management and cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Advise on procurement planning and ensure compliance.
• Lead sourcing processes and monitor supplier performance.
• Support commercial input into key business decisions.

Skills

Commercial Mindset

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Education

CIPS Qualification

Tools

ERP

SRM Sourcing

E-Procurement Tools

Job description

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At South West Water, we believe that the strongest businesses are built on solid, stable foundations — with a vision and a culture that foster change, improvement, and innovation. We’re proud to provide reliable, efficient, and high-quality drinking water and wastewater services for the beautiful South West. Our ambitions include reaching net-zero by 2030, and partnering with Wildlife Trusts, National Parks, and local organizations to ensure a sustainable future. If you want to be part of a diverse team where opportunities flourish and new ideas are welcomed, #JustAddWater.

We currently have opportunities for 2 fixed-term Procurement Business Partners to join us for 12 months. One role requires a base in Exeter or Bristol; the other can be based in Exeter, Bristol, or Redhill. All roles require attendance at your base for at least 2 days per week, with the rest working from home. Some travel between our main offices will also be necessary. The salary is competitive, up to £52,000 per annum, plus excellent benefits.

About the role:

One position focuses on corporate services—IT, FM, customer services, and more—and the other on plant and equipment for wastewater services. You will have the opportunity to develop and monitor strategies for specific categories of spend, supporting procurement requirements across the business, including sourcing, contract management, and supplier management. This role offers a chance to demonstrate a strong commercial focus and drive efficiency, supporting the management of commercial risks and opportunities for South West Water.

What you'll be doing:

1. Procurement Business Partnering: Advise and challenge senior stakeholders on procurement planning, ensuring compliance, accountability, and risk-aware decision-making across operational and capital spend.
2. Category & Commercial Strategy: Own and deliver long-term procurement strategies for high-value/risk categories, providing market insights and aligning plans with strategic business goals.
3. Sourcing & Contracting: Lead end-to-end sourcing processes, from contract design and tendering to negotiation and award, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and commercial standards.
4. Contract & Supplier Management: Monitor supplier performance, conduct due diligence, lead contract reviews, and promote continuous improvement through KPIs and stakeholder feedback.
5. Commercial Support for Projects: Provide analytical and commercial input into key business decisions and investment cases, including risk modelling and evaluation of procurement projects.
6. Process Improvement & Governance: Ensure procurement processes align with corporate objectives, health & safety, and environmental standards, while fostering continuous improvement.
7. Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Support team resilience through cross-coverage, process alignment, and sharing expertise to build procurement capability.

What we're looking for:

• Strong commercial and strategic mindset; understanding procurement's role in achieving corporate goals and managing risks
• Experience delivering cost savings and value within supply chain management
• Excellent communication skills at all levels, with the ability to support and implement business change
• Proven negotiation and supply chain management experience, managing cost and value drivers effectively
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across diverse functions and seniority levels
• Working knowledge of UK/EU procurement regulations and contract types
• A CIPS qualification (or working towards it) is highly desirable
• Knowledge of ERP, SRM sourcing, and e-procurement tools

What’s in it for you:

• Ongoing development and training opportunities for a long-term career
• Benefits including generous holiday allowance, discretionary bonus, pension, share schemes, health benefits, wellbeing programs, discounts, cycle-to-work, financial services, and more

Closing date: 29th May 2025

Be yourself, we like it that way. We aim to build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is natural. Diversity is our strength, reflecting our communities. We care, value everyone, and celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values:

• Be Rock Solid: Build trust and be trusted. Be dependable.
• Be You: Bring your best every day. Be authentic and make your mark uniquely.
• Be the Future: Embrace change, drive progress, own challenges.