Strategic Contracts Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Performance pay

Generous pension

Health & wellbeing benefits

Flexible working

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking a Strategic Contracts Manager to lead category plans and supplier development within the Finance & Commercial division. Hybrid role at Clearwater Court, RG1 8DB, with a permanent full-time contract and a salary of £50,000–£63,000 per year.

You will collaborate with procurement colleagues to ensure value delivery, compliance with Procurement Act 2023 (Utilities), and alignment with capital programme objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering procurement value for money and cost efficiency.
• Proven ability to manage external relationships and negotiate with suppliers.
• Experience leading supply chain project delivery and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Engaging with internal stakeholders and the supply chain to meet targets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Category Plans based on market insights and opportunities.
• Lead category projects and initiatives, supporting Strategic Sourcing Managers as needed.
• Negotiate with suppliers and manage contractual risk and supply resilience.
• Build collaborative supplier relationships and share supplier developments with stakeholders.
• Ensure contracts deliver outputs per agreed terms and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Supplier relationships

Project delivery

Procurement value

Team leadership

Sourcing strategy

Education

MCIPS / CIPS

Job description

Job title Strategic Contracts Manager Ref 45985 Division Finance & Commercial Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Offering between £50,000 to £63,000 per annum Job grade B Closing date 12/10/2026

Reporting to the Supplier Relationship Manager, this role will be expected to ensure compliance with Thames Water supply chain objectives and enhancing value by supporting the business to make informed decisions on sourcing requirements from in-scope spend areas.

This role will play an integral part, working with Commercial and Procurement colleagues and the wider business, in ensuring our supply chain plays a critical role in making sure that the capital programme is delivered to programme and budget. Thames Water’s supply chain strategy is based on collaborating with the supply chain to identify innovative and best practice solutions to meet business objectives.

As an experienced Procurement resource, this role will be accountable for delivery of category and supplier development plans, whilst ensuring that these are delivered in compliance with Procurement Act 2023 (Utilities) and Thames Water Policies and Procedures.

What you’ll be doing as a Strategic Contracts Manager

• Develop and implement Category Plans for the allocated areas of spend, based on market insights and knowledge, trend analysis, identification of opportunities, and risks.
• Build constructive, collaborative relationships with colleagues in the wider Commercial Team
• Develop and implement engagement plans for current and potential supplier
• Identify and prioritise an activity pipeline for both strategic and tactical requirements, for both in-life and sourcing opportunities
• Lead on delivering category projects and initiatives, including supporting Strategic Sourcing Managers as required
• Negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and applying judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience.
• Build collaborative supplier relationships that support delivery, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Share details of new suppliers and developments with existing suppliers with Thames Water Stakeholders
• Lead the review of supplier opportunities, innovations, and improvements for allocated category area
• Be a key interface with the supply chain for allocated spend area, ensuring contracts and agreements awarded deliver outputs as per the agreed terms
• Identify and manage category and supplier level risks, and elevate where appropriate
• Operate information systems to the required standard to maintain accurate and secure records.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on the sourcing projects using available reporting tools

Necessary requirement - Hold a full UK Driving Licence

What you should bring to the role

The essential criteria to help you succeed in this role is:

• Experience of managing multi-disciplinary project teams
• Engaging with internal stakeholders and the supply chain
• Track record in delivering against stretching targets
• Proven ability to manage external relationships and negotiate with suppliers
• Experience in leading supply chain project delivery
• Track record of delivery procurement value for money, cost efficiency and procurement innovation
• Have good communication and stakeholder management skills

Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team

• Efficiently managing spend and information gathering process by working with Business stakeholders, suppliers and third parties (e.g. research agencies)
• Skilled in supplier negotiations and dispute resolution
• Chartered Institute Purchasing and Supply – MCIPS
• Familiarity with Procurement Act 2023 (Utilities)
• Skilled in influencing and presenting to senior levels

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary between £50,000 to £63,000 per annum depending on experience
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process . If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.