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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support operational purchasing and negotiate the best deals with suppliers.
- Company: Affinity Water, a leader in sustainable water management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising procurement processes and driving value.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to continuous improvement and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 £ per year.
The Procurement & Commercial Operations Analyst plays a key role in supporting Affinity Water with operational purchasing activity. The role focuses on securing best value from suppliers where no formal contract or framework exists, acting as a commercial gatekeeper for non-contract spend. You will confidently challenge supplier pricing, negotiate discounts, drive spend compliance, and ensure internal customers achieve the best commercial outcome. This is a highly interactive role requiring strong communication and negotiation skills, a practical commercial mindset, and a strong focus on process, data, and compliance. You will also support the smooth operation of procurement systems and processes, ensuring policy compliance while delivering fast, effective service to stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Buying Desk & Commercial Negotiation
- Act as the first point of contact for non-contract and tactical purchasing requests across the business.
- Engage directly with suppliers to obtain quotations, challenge pricing, and negotiate discounts and improved commercial terms.
- Compare supplier offers and recommend the most commercially advantageous option.
- Ensure purchasing decisions align with Affinity Water's procurement policy and commercial principles.
- Identify repeat or high-value off-contract spend for formal sourcing or contracting activity.
- Stakeholder Support & Customer Service
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand purchasing requirements and provide commercial advice.
- Guide colleagues through the buying process, ensuring requests are handled efficiently and professionally.
- Build strong relationships with operational teams, Finance, and Accounts Payable to resolve queries promptly.
- Procurement Systems & Process Support
- Support purchasing and receipting activity within Oracle Fusion (P2P).
- Maintain catalogue items, onboard new suppliers, and complete required compliance and due diligence checks.
- Support users with system queries and assist with the rollout and adoption of new procurement tools and system improvements.
- Supplier, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure all buying activity complies with internal policies, governance requirements, and audit standards.
- Maintain accurate records of supplier interactions, quotations, and purchase decisions.
- Support continuous improvement of buying desk processes and contribute to wider procurement and commercial transformation initiatives.
About You
- Experience in a procurement, buying, or commercial environment, with confidence negotiating with suppliers.
- Strong Excel capability to analyse, reconcile, and present procurement data accurately, using formulas, pivot tables, and structured models to support operational reporting, controls, and decision-making.
- Experience with procurement systems or ERP platforms (e.g. Oracle Fusion).
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Highly organised, detail-focused, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
Advert closes - Friday 13th February
Benefits
- Salary £35,000 (depending 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 23-27 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 and on Dental and Medical Insurance through our Tap4Perks scheme.
- 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.
Affinity Water recognises the benefits of greater diversity in our workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to building a more inclusive culture where every member of our workforce can thrive.
Procurement & Commercial Operations Analyst in Welwyn Garden City employer: Affinity Water Limited
Contact Detail:
Affinity Water Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement & Commercial Operations Analyst in Welwyn Garden City
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Affinity Water's values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your negotiation skills before the interview. Think about how you would challenge supplier pricing or negotiate discounts. Role-play with a friend to build confidence and get comfortable with the language you'll need to use.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining Affinity Water and ready to dive into the procurement world.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement & Commercial Operations Analyst in Welwyn Garden City
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in procurement and commercial operations. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Negotiation Skills: Since this role involves a lot of negotiation, share specific examples of how you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or stakeholders in the past. We want to see your confidence in action!
Highlight Your Data Skills: Don’t forget to mention your Excel skills! Detail any experience you have with data analysis, especially if you’ve used it to support decision-making in a procurement context. We love a detail-oriented candidate!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you're serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Affinity Water Limited
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Before the interview, brush up on your procurement knowledge. Understand key concepts like supplier negotiation, compliance, and the importance of securing best value. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to Affinity Water's goals.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or resolved conflicts. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to challenge pricing or improve terms, as this role heavily relies on strong negotiation skills.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Oracle Fusion
If you have experience with Oracle Fusion or similar ERP systems, make sure to highlight it. If not, do a bit of research to understand how procurement systems work. Being able to discuss how you would support purchasing and receipting activity will impress the interviewers.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve built relationships with internal stakeholders in previous roles. Be prepared to share how you would guide colleagues through the buying process and ensure their needs are met efficiently. Strong communication is key in this highly interactive role.
