Strategic Sourcing Manager

United Utilities; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utilities company in the UK is searching for a procurement specialist to support strategic sourcing and market management. The role involves high-level negotiations, stakeholder engagement, and leading a team to drive procurement efficiencies. Ideal candidates should possess strong qualifications, a proven track record in sourcing strategies, and an understanding of supplier management frameworks.

Benefits

Generous annual leave package

Competitive pension scheme

Performance-related bonus scheme

Comprehensive healthcare plan

Gym and wellness benefits

Qualifications

• Degree educated, preferably with CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc.
• Significant experience in sourcing and market strategy.
• Proven track record of engaging senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support integrated market strategies and sourcing processes.
• Engage with stakeholders and drive supplier collaborations.
• Lead complex negotiations for significant savings.

Skills

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Stakeholder Engagement

Market Strategy Development

Supplier Management

Education

CIPS

RICS

MBA

MSc

Job description

Job number UU03038 Country United Kingdom Region Cheshire West and Chester Location name Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP Posting End Date 20/06/2025 Band 4a Role Type Permanent Work hours 37 Hours per Week Salary Competitive Salary

Salary - Competitive Salary
Work Type - Hybrid
Job Location - Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP
Role Type - Permanent
Employment Type - Full Time
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week

United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.

We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• Up to 10.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
• Best Doctors
• Salary Finance
• Wealth at Work courses
• Deals and discounts
• EVolve Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Mental health first aiders
• ShareBuy
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Job Purpose

This role is accountable for supporting the leadership and delivery of business-critical and medium to high spend category strategies through a combined market management and sourcing-led approach.

Operating across the full commercial lifecycle, the role supports the development and execution of integrated strategies that enable the wider category team to influence total contracted spend of up to £300m, ensuring delivery of multi-million-pound savings and benefits, aligned with the Commercial Balanced Business Scorecard.

- Support the development and execution of Integrated Market Strategies.
- Deliver the end-to-end sourcing process for complex, medium to high value projects.
- Operate the full business partnering model to maximise stakeholder engagement and commercial outcomes.
- Support strategic supplier collaboration activities where appropriate, working alongside the Supplier Collaboration team.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Support the creation and implementation of Integrated Market Strategies for high-value categories, aligned with organisational priorities and market insights.
• Undertake the full sourcing delivery lifecycle – from business requirement through to contract execution – to enable strategy execution, with an annual sourcing pipeline supporting spend of up to £150m.
• Operate as a business partner to senior stakeholders (Executive and ‘Head of’ level), supporting integration of category plans and ensuring all activity complies with legislative, risk, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Finance and key stakeholders to build and maintain a multi-million-pound qualified savings and benefits pipeline, aligned to budgets.
• Lead complex negotiations to deliver significant savings, cost avoidance, and wider value outcomes.
• Provide key input into annual Integrated Market Planning reviews, working in collaboration with Market, Sourcing, and Supplier Collaboration teams.
• Contribute to demand challenge activities, promoting the aggregation of common requirements and the pursuit of innovation.
• Introduce external market insight and best practice thinking, including Total Cost of Ownership models, benchmarking, competitor and market watch analysis.
• Support transition of awarded contracts into supplier performance management and collaboration frameworks.
• Work alongside the Supplier Collaboration team to ensure suppliers are aligned with business objectives, and contribute to supplier performance reviews and improvement initiatives where relevant.
• Lead and develop a team of sourcing and/or category professionals to maximise contribution, capability, and value delivery.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Preferably degree educated, with a relevant post-graduate qualification (e.g., CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc).
• Significant experience across sourcing and/or market strategy development, including delivery of complex, high-value programmes.
• Exposure to supplier management frameworks and involvement in supplier performance or collaboration activity is desirable.
• Proven track record of senior stakeholder engagement and business partnering.
• Strong understanding of procurement and category management methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
• High-level negotiation, influencing, and dispute resolution capabilities.
• Experienced in collaborative working across functional teams and matrixed environments.
• Demonstrable problem-solving capability within large and complex organisations.
  - Knowledge of the Utilities sector is desirable.
  - Project management experience is advantageous.
  - Demonstrable people and team management experience.

Qualifications

Desirable Qualifications

• CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc

Other

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.