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 annual leave, performance pay, and a robust pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for growth and travel.
- 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. You’ll work at the heart of Procurement and Commercial, partnering with internal stakeholders and suppliers to unlock innovation, manage strategic relationships, and deliver real business impact.
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.
Working pattern – Monday to Friday - 36 hours.
Necessary requirements for the role:
- 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 would be great to have/bring:
- 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 the 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 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.
Strategic Contracts Manager employer: Thames Water
Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can make a significant impact on critical UK infrastructure. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, competitive salaries, and generous benefits, including a robust pension scheme and opportunities for professional growth, you'll thrive in a culture that values innovation and collaboration. Join us in shaping the future while enjoying a supportive team atmosphere and the chance to develop your career in procurement and supply chain management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Contracts Manager
✨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 current employees at Thames Water. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Thames Water’s recent projects and initiatives. Show us you’re genuinely interested in the company and its mission. Tailor your answers to reflect how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around supplier relationships and category strategies.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your experience managing supplier relationships and driving value. We recommend rehearsing common interview questions and having specific examples ready to demonstrate your skills and achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Thames Water. Keep an eye on our careers page for updates and new openings!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Contracts Manager
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 Strategic 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 impacts, so don’t hold back on the details!
Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills:Since this role involves a lot of collaboration, make sure to emphasise your excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Share specific instances where you influenced decisions or built strong relationships.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into market insights related to the utility and infrastructure sectors. Understand current trends, risks, and opportunities that Thames Water might be facing. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you align your answers with their strategic goals.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships in the past. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented to drive value and efficiency. Highlighting your ability to influence stakeholders will demonstrate that you can effectively navigate the complexities of the role.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Think about instances where you've driven cost efficiency or innovation in previous roles. Be prepared to discuss how you identified opportunities for improvement and the impact it had on the business. This will show that you have the commercial mindset needed for a Strategic Contracts Manager.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Governance
Understand the importance of supplier performance management and governance. Prepare to talk about how you've conducted reviews and oversight in past projects. This will illustrate your capability to ensure contractual outcomes are achieved and that you can manage risks effectively.
