Head of Procurement - Bioresources & Technology

Head of Procurement – Bioresources & Technology

United Utilities (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves. We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of. We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and contribution.

Location: Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP (Onsite plus flexible working arrangements). Role Type: Permanent. Employment Type: Full Time. Working Hours: 37.0 hours per week.

Job Purpose

This role is pivotal in supporting business continuity and environmental objectives. Areas of focus will include, but are not limited to, Bioresources, Scientific Services Fleet, Chemicals, and Energy, representing a combined annual spend of approximately £300-350m.

The role provides strategic direction to a team of procurement professionals who manage the full commercial lifecycle — from market insight through sourcing and supplier collaboration — to drive value, innovation, sustainability improvements and enhanced operational performance.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leadership of a team of procurement professionals across market insights, sourcing delivery, and supplier collaboration capability for in-scope categories.
• Building influential relationships with relevant senior business stakeholders through the implementation of the full business partnering model.
• Lead and provide strategic direction, challenge and governance over the development of complex, multi-million-pound market strategies across a £300–£350m portfolio, ensuring they are insight‑led, robust and aligned to business priorities.
• Provide category-level oversight, challenge and approval of commercial strategies, ensuring compliance, risk management and alignment to business priorities.
• Oversee delivery of market‑led strategies, sourcing execution and supplier collaboration plans, ensuring consistency, alignment and measurable value delivery across the portfolio. Ensure seamless integration of market strategies, sourcing pipelines and supplier management plans across the category portfolio.
• Accountable for facilitating the delivery of multi-million‑pound savings and wider value, including sustainability, innovation, cost avoidance and performance improvements, working in collaboration with Operations, Finance, Legal and other stakeholders to gain approval of benefits and apply to budgets where appropriate.
• Drive sustainability, innovation and operational resilience outcomes within the supply chain, aligned to UU’s environmental and service ambitions.
• Lead the annual business planning process for the specific spend category and relevant stakeholders ensuring alignment with long‑term operational needs and business strategies.
• Active management of business compliance to relevant regulations and the UU Procurement Policy specific to the spend categories, whilst ensuring effective workload management, prioritisation and agile working methodologies are adopted for qualified opportunities.
• Recognised throughout UU for senior expertise in market, sourcing and supplier collaboration management, bringing innovation, insights and ideas into the business to address complex challenges and deliver enhanced commercial outcomes. Lead a team of motivated and talented commercial professionals, fostering teamwork, coaching, challenging, developing capability, promoting talent management, with a succession plan implemented.

What We’re Looking For

• Preferably degree educated, with a relevant post‑graduate qualification (e.g. CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc).
• Significant experience of leading complex, business‑critical procurement categories and multi‑disciplinary teams at strategic and operational levels.
• Proven senior‑level stakeholder management and business partnering skillset.
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in negotiation, dispute resolution and risk management.
• A demonstrable level of line management experience.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and long‑term value.
• Knowledge of category management, sourcing processes and supplier collaboration methodologies.
• Ability to interpret market intelligence to shape strategy, challenge demand and identify value opportunities.
• Experience delivering sustainability, innovation and resilience outcomes within supply chains.
• Politically savvy, with the ability to use exemplary direct and indirect influencing strategies.
• Demonstrable level of problem‐solving experience and in large, complex organisations.
• Experience with cross‑functional collaborative working and delivering shared business objectives.
• Detailed knowledge of the Utilities market sector and related regulations.
• Project management experience would be an advantage.
• People and team management experience.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Preferably degree educated, with a relevant post‑graduate qualification (e.g. CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc).

Other

We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.