Strategic Procurement Lead - Water Infra & Innovation

JN Bentley; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

JN Bentley, part of Anglian Water @One Alliance in the UK, is recruiting a Procurement Manager to shape supply chain strategy and drive commercial outcomes. You will lead a procurement team, optimise supplier performance and manage category risk within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

You will influence across internal teams and alliance partners, delivering value through strategic category management, governance, and digital-enabled procurement insights.

Qualifications

• MCIPS and/or CMI qualification or equivalent.
• Significant procurement experience in a commercial environment.
• Experience leading and developing teams with direct reports.
• Strong supplier management and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience handling NEC contracts and complex frameworks.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Sound judgement for decision-making in a complex setting.
• Strong planning and prioritisation abilities.
• Proactive approach to improve outcomes and processes.
• Degree in business/procurement considered advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a procurement team and drive supplier performance.
• Develop category strategies across construction services and materials.
• Manage supplier and category risk to protect continuity and value.
• Use scorecards to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support tender activity and provide commercially informed recommendations.
• Negotiate critical goods and services for value and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with frameworks, governance and responsible procurement.
• Foster supplier development and strong supplier relationships.
• Collaborate with internal teams to bring procurement in early in decisions.
• Identify efficiency gains and better commercial outcomes across the supply chain.
• Champion digital transformation, data analytics and procurement insight.
• Promote innovation and challenge established approaches to unlock value.
• Provide reporting and risk information to senior stakeholders.
• Create an inclusive, safe, high-performing working environment.

Skills

Supplier management

Team leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Education

MCIPS/CMI qualification

Degree in business/procurement

Tools

NEC contracts

Job description

JN Bentley, part of Anglian Water @One Alliance in the UK, is recruiting a Procurement Manager to shape supply chain strategy and drive commercial outcomes. You will lead a procurement team, optimise supplier performance and manage category risk within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

You will influence across internal teams and alliance partners, delivering value through strategic category management, governance, and digital-enabled procurement insights.