At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategies and manage contracts to drive value and performance.
- Company: Affinity Water, a leader in the utilities sector with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, learning opportunities, generous leave, and family benefits.
- Other info: Join a supportive team culture with a focus on continuous improvement and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in commercial management with NEC4 contract expertise.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Affinity Water is looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to provide leadership and assurance across Capex, Opex and Indirect (Corporate) spend. This is a key role within our established Procurement & Commercial function, comprising over 30 professionals, and will play a pivotal part in driving value, governance, risk management and supplier performance across the organisation.
The Role
In this role you will act as a trusted commercial advisor to senior stakeholders, delivering end-to-end commercial support across sourcing, contracting, supplier management and change control. The role requires strong leadership capability, excellent judgement, and the ability to influence and challenge constructively. A core focus of the position will be the effective application and management of NEC4 contracts, ensuring best practice in contract administration, risk management and change mechanisms.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Leadership & Assurance
- Provide strategic commercial leadership and oversight across defined areas of spend
- Ensure robust governance, compliance and value for money
- Lead commercial input into procurement, contracting and supplier management activities
- Embed consistent application of commercial and procurement standards
- NEC4 Contract Management
- Lead and advise on NEC4 contract implementation and best practice
- Manage risk, early warnings, compensation events and contract changes
- Support and mentor stakeholders and colleagues in NEC4 principles
- People & Capability Development
- Contribute to a high-performing, collaborative team culture
- Support the development of capability across the wider function
- Demonstrate inclusive and values-led leadership
- Continuous Improvement & Digital Focus
- Drive improvements through data, analytics and digital tools
- Enhance spend visibility, forecasting and reporting capability
- Lead initiatives to improve processes and commercial outcomes
- Stakeholder & Supplier Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships across the business
- Lead engagement with key suppliers to deliver performance and long-term value
- Collaborate effectively across the Procurement & Commercial community
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years experience in commercial or contract management
- Strong practical expertise in NEC4 contracts
- Experience managing Capex, Opex and/or Indirect spend
- Strong commercial acumen, risk awareness and governance focus
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable
- Experience in utilities, infrastructure or regulated sectors
- Knowledge of ECC Option C (target cost) contracts
- Experience in supplier relationship management and performance frameworks
- Exposure to digital tools, analytics or reporting enhancements
- Ability to leverage data to support commercial decision-making
About You
You will be a high-calibre, commercially focused professional with strong NEC4 expertise, proven negotiation skills and a proactive, forward-thinking mindset. You will be comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, influencing stakeholders and driving continuous improvement.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary dependant on skills and experience
- Learning and development opportunities, including mentoring and a range of formal courses and open learning resources.
- Entry into the company annual bonus scheme.
- Annual leave from 26-30 rising with length of service, and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days.
- A Celebration Day in addition to public holidays that people can use to celebrate a religious festival or other occasion that is important to them.
- A generous 'double match pension scheme' that doubles the contributions you make (company contribution capped at 12%)
- We offer a range of family benefits including enhanced Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental Leave, Fertility Support Leave and up to 5 full or 10 half days of paid Carers Leave.
- Menopause policy and Reasonable Adjustment policy to help everyone perform at their best.
- Access to our Wellbeing Centre with support for looking after your physical and mental health.
- Discounts at a Range of Retail Outlets through our Tap4Perks scheme
- Discounts on Dental and Medical Insurance through our Tap4Perks scheme through salary sacrifice
- Up to 4 Affinity days a year to volunteer in the community.
- Life Assurance.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to offering interviews to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria and opt in on the application form. Ask the Talent Acquisition lead for the full job description to see all the criteria. If we have a very high volume of applicants and we’re not able to offer interviews to all, we’ll take a fair and proportionate number of disabled candidates through.
Commercial Manager employer: Affinity Water Limited
Affinity Water is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a competitive salary starting from £65,000 and a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave, a double match pension scheme, and extensive family support policies. Our inclusive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, empowering you to lead the architecture of critical Oracle CCS solutions while contributing to meaningful community initiatives through our volunteering days. Join us in our mission to deliver sustainable water solutions and be part of a team that values diversity and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Affinity Water Limited.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Affinity Water Limited:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Affinity Water Limited. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Affinity Water Limited.
How to prepare for a job interview at Affinity Water Limited
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Affinity Water Limited!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Affinity Water Limited. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Affinity Water Limited's culture.
