United Utilities (UU) is proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves. 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 and to belong to.
Our mission is to deliver high-quality water for a more prosperous, 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 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.
Joining us
We've got a lot to offer. You'll join a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution. These include:
- A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
- A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
- A 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
- A Car allowance of £5000
- A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
The role
Are you an experienced Commercial Business Manager looking for an exciting opportunity where you can display your skills leading a market, sourcing and supplier collaboration capability and operating a full business partnering model with key stakeholders, whilst maximising savings and benefits delivery?
If yes, then United Utilities (UU) has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team in Warrington. Initially on a 12 month fixed term contract, with the possibility to move to permanent.
You will have the opportunity to lead a specific spend category with a focus on commercial capability, driving value through market, sourcing, and supplier collaboration. In this role, you will be accountable for nurturing a comprehensive business partnering approach with relevant senior key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with our Commercial Strategy. Your efforts will directly contribute to delivering multi-million-pound savings and benefits, making a significant impact on our organisation's success.
In joining us, you will have full exposure to the organisation, our major projects and our largest industry partners. Stakeholder collaboration is vital for this role. You will therefore need to build strong working relationships, manage key internal and external stakeholders effectively and ensure a full business partnering model, whilst maximising value, collaborating with other experts and leading initiatives to tackle challenges unique to our industry, contributing to our success and helping us achieve our objectives.
We champion flexible ways of working. In-person attendance is required three days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
United Utilities offer dynamic and long-lasting options that will help you grow professionally and personally and you will have the chance to enhance your skill, knowledge and experience in a supportive and collaborative environment. If you are passionate about making a positive difference for the North West of England and want to join us on our journey of transformation, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and become part of the UU family!
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead a dedicated spend category team, encompassing market management, sourcing delivery, and supplier collaboration capabilities.
- Build influential relationships with relevant business stakeholders through the execution of the full business partnering model.
- Spearhead the development and implementation of complex, business-critical market strategies for high spend (over £150M), influencing annual expenditures exceeding £80M.
- Oversee the team's delivery of market, sourcing, and supplier collaboration-led value. • Facilitate the achievement of multi-million-pound savings and defined benefits, collaborating with all relevant stakeholders, approved by Finance, and applied to budgets where applicable.
- Direct the annual business planning process for the specific spend category and relevant stakeholders.
- Conduct regular external market benchmark assessments, reflected in integrated market strategies, including competitor analysis, market trend evaluations, and innovation insights.
- Actively manage compliance with the Procurement Policy specific to the spend category, ensuring effective workload management, prioritization, and agile methodologies for qualified opportunities.
- Lead a team of motivated and skilled commercial professionals, fostering teamwork, coaching, challenging, and promoting talent management, with a succession plan in place.
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Ideally degree-educated, with a relevant post-graduate qualification (e.g., CIPS, RICS, MBA, MSc)
- Extensive experience in leading business-critical spend categories, sourcing strategies, and strategic supplier relationships
- Proven ability in senior-level stakeholder management and business partnering
- Demonstrable line management experience
- Strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills
- Proven problem-solving experience in large, complex organizations
- Experience with cross-functional collaborative working methods
- Experience in people and team management