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- Tasks: Oversee contractors, manage performance, and resolve commercial issues in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, private healthcare, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on communities and the planet while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and strong stakeholder skills are essential.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re looking for someone with strong contract management experience ideally from the water industry who can confidently oversee contractors against agreed terms, KPIs and SLAs, resolve commercial issues and approve contract variations where needed. You’ll act as the key escalation point for the Commercial team when work falls outside standard agreements, using sound judgement and strong relationship skills to keep delivery on track. This role involves regular face-to-face engagement, holding contractors to account and ensuring performance and behaviours meet expectations. Developer Services experience would be an advantage, along with the ability to drive positive health and safety standards across all partners.
Champion value for money by ensuring consistent, compliant delivery across all service partners, supported by strong contractual understanding. Drive partner performance through regular SLA, KPI and metric reviews, holding partners accountable and ensuring actions and outcomes are fully tracked. Lead collaborative performance management with PDMs and wider DS teams, identifying challenges early and resolving issues in a timely, customer‑focused way. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, supporting better ways of working across delivery partners and internal DS teams. Promote high health & safety standards, supporting investigations, audits and the timely completion of corrective actions. Collaborate with Commercial, Delivery and external service providers to ensure a joined‑up, consistent approach that strengthens partnerships and improves the overall customer experience.
What you should bring to the role:
- Strong knowledge of engineering contracts and procurement processes, with hands‑on experience using them day to day.
- Proven performance management background within utilities or engineering, supported by solid data analysis and confident decision‑making.
- Skilled collaborator with excellent stakeholder management, able to influence effectively at all levels and work within high‑performing teams.
- Resilient problem solver with strong commercial and financial awareness, supported by a relevant engineering, procurement or commercial qualification (degree or equivalent).
- Experience in project or programme management, with the ability to support operational delivery when needed.
- Understanding of Developer Services processes and the broader operational environment, ideally with previous leadership exposure.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary between £65,000 and £80,000 per annum depending on skills and experience.
- 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Private Medical Health Care.
- 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.
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.
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.
Contract & Performance Manager in Reading employer: Thames Water Utilities Limited
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Utilities Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract & Performance Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the water industry or related fields. Attend industry events, webinars, or even local meet-ups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its values, especially around health and safety standards. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, particularly in contract management and performance oversight.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in contract management or performance issues. Highlight your ability to drive positive outcomes and foster collaboration.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Thames Water family. Get your application in early to avoid missing out!
We think you need these skills to ace Contract & Performance Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your contract management experience, especially in the water industry. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled challenges in performance management or contract oversight. We love a resilient problem solver, so let us know how you’ve used your judgement to keep things on track!
Highlight Collaboration Experience: Since this role involves working closely with various teams and stakeholders, share instances where you’ve successfully collaborated with others. We’re all about teamwork at StudySmarter, so show us how you can foster strong relationships!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water Utilities Limited
✨Know Your Contracts
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of engineering contracts and procurement processes. Be ready to discuss how you've managed contracts in the past, especially in the water industry. This will show that you understand the nuances of the role and can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Performance Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed performance metrics like SLAs and KPIs. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you resolved them. This will demonstrate your ability to hold partners accountable and drive performance effectively.
✨Demonstrate Strong Stakeholder Management
Be ready to talk about your experience collaborating with various stakeholders. Highlight instances where you've influenced decisions or improved relationships. This is crucial for the role, so showing your skills here will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Think of examples where you've fostered a culture of continuous improvement in your previous roles. Discuss how you've identified challenges early and implemented solutions. This aligns perfectly with the company's goal of enhancing service delivery and customer experience.
