Strategic Sourcing Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Performance pay

Health & wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited seeks a Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead capital-procurement strategy and work with Commercial and Procurement colleagues to enable value-driven sourcing decisions. You will help ensure the capital programme delivers on time and within budget while upholding regulatory compliance.

The role requires strategic sourcing experience, leadership of multi-disciplinary project teams, and strong supplier relationship management to achieve procurement value for money.

Qualifications

• Strategic sourcing experience essential.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Engages with internal stakeholders and the supply chain.
• Proven delivery against stretching procurement targets.
• Proven ability to manage external supplier relationships.
• Experience in leading supply chain project delivery.
• Delivery of procurement value for money and cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy development for projects per category strategy.
• Prioritise sourcing initiatives with agile project delivery.
• Guide multi-disciplinary teams through procurement processes.
• Maintain audit trails and confidentiality in supplier data.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for contract launches and handovers.
• Create and present reports, documents and presentations.
• Develop relationships with suppliers to generate value.
• Provide timely, accurate reporting on sourcing projects.
• Support best practice across the Commercial lifecycle.
• Operate information systems to maintain secure records.

Skills

strategic sourcing experience

multi-disciplinary project teams

stakeholder engagement

delivering targets

supplier negotiation

supply chain project delivery

Education

MCIPS

Job description

Job title Strategic Sourcing Manager Ref 45958 Division Finance & Commercial Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Offering between £45,000 to £65,000 per annum Job grade B Closing date 09/10/2026

Reporting to the Senior Strategic Sourcing 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 to make 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.

What you'll be doing as a Strategic Sourcing Manager

• Leading strategy development for specific projects as allocated by the Capital Procurement Business Partner, in line with agreed category strategies
• Project management and prioritisation of a number of sourcing initiatives effectively through agile project delivery and problem-solving skills
• Leading a multi-disciplinary team through the procurement process with full internal Stakeholder engagement and following Thames Water sourcing methodology
• Ensuring that audit trails, document and information systems and all supplier information exchanges are effective, with robust confidentiality and traceability, in line with the Procurement and Data Protection Regulations
• Working with stakeholders on the responsibilities for contract launch and prepare for handover to Contract Management for in-life management
• Creating compelling, well-structured, accurate reports. documents and presentations and effectively deliver to all levels of the business (both internally and externally)
• Developing effective relationships with the supply market which generate positive and value driven outcomes
• Ensuring timely and accurate reporting on the sourcing projects using available reporting tools
• Support development of best practice across the Commercial lifecycle; ensuring processes are regularly reviewed and updated
• Operate information systems to the required standard to maintain accurate and secure records
• Always ensure that Procurement Regulations and rules are observed during sourcing initiatives

Working pattern - Monday to Friday 36 hours

What you should bring to the role

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

• strategic sourcing experience
• 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

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
• Chartered Institute Purchasing and Supply – MCIPS
• Skilled in supplier negotiations and dispute resolution
• Ability to interpret forms of contract for example IchemE/NEC

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £45,000 to £60,000 per annum
• 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.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.