Procurement Manager - SRO

We have an exciting requirement for a Procurement Manager to join Thames Water to support the delivery of strategic regional water resources solutions including Strategic Regional Options (SROs). This role provides an opportunity to participate in projects which are deemed to be the leading edge for the water industry and are critical to ensuring the long-term availability of water supplies for our customers.

Ofwat has allocated funds for water companies to investigate and develop 17 integrated SROs during 2020-25. The funding will enable companies to develop solutions on behalf of customers that are ‘construction ready’ for the 2025-2030 period, and that protect and enhance the environment and benefit wider society. Thames Water is engaged in five schemes, four of which are to be managed jointly between multiple water companies.

The SROs are a key input into the regional Water Resources South East (WRSE) and Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24) investment programmes.

What you’ll be doing as a Procurement Manager

The Procurement Manager Manager will support the SRO Procurement & Supplier Management Team on major capital infrastructure projects. Establishing effective working relationships with key internal stakeholders and the external supply market whilst demonstrating the Thames Water values and behaviours. Developing innovative and compelling sourcing solutions that deliver the best value for Thames Water.
Ensuring full compliance with EU procurement regulations. Delivery at pace, available to progress and manage multiple high-value complex projects. Day-to-day duties include:

Sourcing Projects:

• Lead strategy development for specific sourcing projects as allocated by Procurement Lead. (these will be for major capital (construction) projects and assets but may involve services or a combination of all)
• Create compelling and innovative sourcing strategies which challenge current ways of working and deliver the best value to Thames Water.
• Engage the market to develop/form suitable partners to deliver the sourcing strategies.
• Led a multi-disciplinary team through the procurement process with full customer engagement and following Thames Water sourcing methodology.
• Demonstrate that sustainability, innovation and risk management, collaboration, health and safety & well-being are effectively considered and managed through each initiative.
• Ensure that sourcing projects are delivered on time, achieving optimum risk allocation, best value and fulfilling customers' expectations.
• Ensure that audit trails, document and information systems and all supplier information exchanges are effective, with robust confidentiality and traceability, in line with EU legislation.
• Demonstrate leadership within the Procurement Team by always striving for the highest standards of professionalism, high energy, commitment and best-practice.
• Contribute to the delivery of your team’s targets by maintaining a fast pace in all sourcing projects, and challenging others to do the same.
• Work with stakeholders on the responsibilities for contract launch and prepare for either handover or ongoing Contract Management of the Construction delivery contract management as appropriate, ensuring value is delivered through the full project lifecycle.

Stakeholder Management:

• Develop and manage stakeholder engagement plans for a complex environment across multiple individuals, teams and business units.

Communication:

• Create compelling, well-structured documents and presentations and effectively deliver them to all levels of the business. (both internally and externally)
• Build a trusted peer relationship with key stakeholders with an ability to engage and influence at senior levels.
• Accountable for developing effective relationships with the supply market which generate positive and value-driven outcomes.
• Take sole responsibility for the development and refinement of core sourcing documentation and detailed contractual requirements. (obligations on Thames Water)
• Interactively tailor the depth of communicated information for specific audiences and situations.

Data Analytics:

• Efficiently manage spending and information gathering process by working with the Business. Analysts, suppliers and third parties (e.g. research agencies)
• Work with the Business Analyst to identify key insightful findings to prepare a comprehensive category profile.

Negotiation:

• Apply a creative and agile approach to negotiation to deliver outcome (not cost) focused solutions whilst always cognisant of being a representative of Thames Water.
• Independently lead complex and sometimes challenging negotiations to a successful conclusion.
• Have an in-depth understanding of risk transfer between client and contractor, and focus negotiation approach to achieve an optimal cost-risk balance.

Process:
Ability to challenge, review and improve existing (or new) procurement processes as Thames Water adapts to the changing regulatory environment.

What you should bring to the role

• Experience working in a Construction commercial, procurement or contract management role.
• Experience of working with SAP.
• Have obtained or working towards MCIPS.
• Good understanding of standard industry contract forms particularly NEC4 but also knowledgeable about IChemE and/or FIDIC and the risk profiles associated with each
• Contract definition skills and experience adapting and negotiating commercial terms to the benefit of the client.
• Good ability to transfer engineering solutions or needs into cost drivers, commercial incentive regimes and resulting contractual arrangements.
• Excellent commercial awareness.
• Self-starter, resilient and tenacious under pressure.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement within a complex multi-site and multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills, with the presence to be a role model for other team members and the confidence to challenge.
• Demonstrates positive behaviours aligned to the Thames Water Values 
• Demonstrates a willingness to challenge.
• Shows a willingness to look for ideas or intelligence from outside the immediate team, their business, and their industry
• Is visibly proactive in resolving potential difficulties and overcoming barriers.
• Stays abreast of market & industry developments and has a proactive approach to developing an external network.
• Comfortable in a position of responsibility with the confidence to make decisive, informed decisions based on judgement of risk to Client or Contractor.
• Confident in leading and defining direction or taking decisions for a small team of peers and/or subject matter experts.
• Keen analytical mind and excellent Excel and PowerPoint skills.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary of £50,000 per annum increasing with relevant experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

Who are we?

Our business continues to operate as usual, delivering our essential services to around 16 million customers across London, Thames Valley and the Home Counties. 

At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.

Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.

But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We need to keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?

Working at Thames Water

At Thames Water, we recognise that people are at the heart of our business. To help us succeed in providing life's essential service, we need a range of skills and capabilities, representative of society throughout our business.

We seek to attract and retain a cultural mix of people who can offer different but complementary attitudes, values, talents, and knowledge. We understand the importance of appreciating and harnessing the unique skills, experiences, backgrounds, and differences that each individual brings.

Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.

Find out more about working at Thames Water.

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, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

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.