Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of UK infrastructure by managing supplier relationships and driving value.
- Company: Join Thames Water, a leader in critical infrastructure with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, performance bonuses, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for travel and excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on essential projects while developing your career in procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in supplier management and category strategies; degree or professional qualification preferred.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 62000 £ per year.
Are you ready to shape the future of a critical UK infrastructure programme? As a Contracts Manager at Thames Water, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving value through our supply chain – ensuring our capital programme is delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards.
What you’ll be doing as a Strategic Contracts Manager:
- Develop and implement Category Plans for the allocated areas of spend, focusing primarily on capital spends, based on market insights and knowledge, trend analysis, identification of opportunities, and risks.
- Lead the development and delivery of category strategies informed by market insight, trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders to align category plans with business priorities.
- Manage supplier performance through robust governance, reviews, and contract oversight.
- Drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and added value.
- Act as a key interface between Thames Water and its supply chain, ensuring contractual outcomes are achieved.
- Identify, manage, and mitigate supplier and category risks.
- Explore and develop future supplier capability to support long‑term business needs.
Base location – Hybrid – Clear Water Court, Reading. Working pattern – Monday to Friday, 36 hours. Travel will be required to supplier locations and to meet key stakeholders on Thames Water sites.
What you should bring to the role:
- Proven experience managing supplier relationships and delivering category strategies.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving value, cost efficiency, and innovation.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and shape business decisions using market insight.
- Experience delivering supply chain or procurement projects.
- Some understanding of Utility and/or Infrastructure business operations, ideally working with Capital/Construction suppliers.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Degree or relevant professional qualification (or studying for a Professional Qualification).
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.
Additional skills and experiences that would be great to have:
- Skilled in influencing and presenting to senior levels.
- Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply – MCIPS.
- Familiarity with the Procurement Act 2023 (Utilities).
- Self‑starter and resilient under pressure.
- Be a good team player who enjoys working as part of a busy team.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary between £48,000–£62,000 per annum depending on experience.
- Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
- Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
- Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
- Access to a range of benefits to support health, wellbeing, and finances, including annual health MOTs, access to physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers, and life assurance.
Capital Procurement Contract Manager in Reading employer: Thames Water
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Capital Procurement Contract Manager in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Thames Water and understanding their capital procurement strategies. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to shine, so practice common interview questions and think of examples that highlight your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and interested. It’s a simple yet effective way to reinforce your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at Thames Water.
We think you need these skills to ace Capital Procurement Contract Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in managing supplier relationships and delivering category strategies. We want to see how your skills align with the role of a Contracts Manager at Thames Water!
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: Demonstrate your strong commercial acumen by providing examples of how you've driven value and cost efficiency in previous roles. We love seeing real-life examples that showcase your ability to influence stakeholders and shape business decisions.
Highlight Relevant Experience: If you have experience in utility or infrastructure operations, make sure to mention it! We’re looking for candidates who understand the nuances of working with Capital/Construction suppliers, so don’t hold back on sharing your insights.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates about the role. Let’s get started on shaping the future together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into market insights related to capital procurement. Understand current trends, risks, and opportunities in the supply chain. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you align your answers with Thames Water's strategic goals.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples of how you've built strong relationships with stakeholders in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific instances where your communication and influencing skills made a difference. This is crucial for a role that requires managing supplier performance and aligning category plans with business priorities.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Highlight your experience in driving value and cost efficiency. Bring along concrete examples of how you've successfully implemented category strategies or improved supplier performance. This will show that you have the commercial mindset needed for the role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Innovation
Think about ways you've identified opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in past projects. Be prepared to share these examples during the interview, as Thames Water is looking for someone who can drive added value through their supply chain.