Supplier Engagement & Contract Management Manager in Worthing

**Location:** Falmer (hybrid – typically 2–3 days per week in the office)

**Contract Type:** Permanent

**Hours:** Full time

**Salary:** Up to £48,000 per annum + competitive benefits

**About the role**

We are looking for a **Supplier Engagement & Contract Management Manager** to play a pivotal role in how Southern Water works with its strategic capital supply chain. This is a highly collaborative, relationship‐led role, suited to someone with experience in **supplier relationship management**, **account management**, or **stakeholder-facing commercial roles** who enjoys acting as the bridge between internal teams and external partners. You will be responsible for nurturing long-term supplier relationships, leading governance and escalation activities, and ensuring contractual frameworks are applied effectively to protect both performance and value – without owning day‐to‐day contract negotiations. Working closely with Procurement, Capital Delivery and Commercial teams, you will help ensure strong, transparent supplier partnerships that support Southern Water's operational and strategic ambitions.

**What you will be responsible for**

• **Supplier & Stakeholder Engagement**

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with strategic suppliers, acting as a trusted point of contact and escalation.
• Build an effective interface between internal stakeholders and suppliers to enable joint value creation.
• Manage internal stakeholder expectations and facilitate constructive, transparent engagement.
• Act as a bridge between Southern Water and suppliers – ensuring supplier perspectives are heard while also holding internal teams accountable.
• Travel periodically to supplier sites to strengthen relationships and support effective partnership working.

• Ensure adherence to established contract and supplier management processes.
• Maintain oversight of all contracts within your portfolio, ensuring plans are in place for extensions, renewals or close-out.
• Manage contract variations, ensuring rigour and consistency in any changes to commercial or operational terms.
• Act as a point of escalation for contractual or performance-related issues, supporting dispute resolution where required.
• Protect Southern Water's commercial and contractual position while minimising contractual risk.

• Understand and apply commercial contract mechanisms and levers.
• Aggregate supplier performance data and provide clear, structured feedback to suppliers and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers, internal stakeholders and procurement colleagues to develop and deliver performance improvement plans.
• Support Procurement Category Managers with sourcing and supplier governance activities as required.

**What you'll bring to the role**

• **Essential**

• Proven experience in **supplier relationship management**, **account management**, or similar stakeholder-facing roles within a complex environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to understand and manage contractual frameworks.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, particularly in resolving escalated or complex issues.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage your own workload, and balance competing priorities.

• Experience working in infrastructure, capital delivery, utilities, or a regulated environment.
• Exposure to procurement or category management environments.
• Experience operating in a role blending **relationship manager** and **commercial governance** responsibilities.

**What this role delivers**

The Supplier Engagement & Contract Management Manager plays a crucial role in maximising value from Southern Water's supplier relationships. Through effective governance, commercial oversight and strong collaboration, you will help drive improved performance, reduce risk and strengthen long-term supplier partnerships that directly support Southern Water's strategic and operational goals.

**About Southern Water**

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain's water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025–30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. You will be joining during a period of significant change, working alongside a skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where you can make a meaningful impact and help shape how we work with our suppliers. At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you are passionate about making a positive impact, we would love to hear from you – even if you don’t tick every box.

**Our commitment to diversity**

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and identities. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

**Additional information**

Appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory pre‐employment checks, including right to work, DBS and security vetting.

**Our Benefits**

• Company and performance-related bonus
• Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution
• Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary
• Health benefits through a Cash Plan
• Two paid community volunteering days a year
• 25 days annual holiday
• Occupational health service
• Retail discount app
• We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options