Supply Chain Manager

Hybrid - Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP

Job title Supply Chain Manager  Division Strategic Water Resources Location Hybrid - Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP
Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Competitive salary from £74,500 to £82,000 per annum, depending on experience Job grade C Closing date 25/02/2026

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Strategic Water Resources Directorate (SWR) as a Supply Chain Manager. SWR is responsible for delivering our Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) and Strategic Resource Options (SROs) through robust forecasting, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and investment in resilient infrastructure – ensuring a reliable water supply for future generations.

You’ll deliver supply chain engagement and supplier relationship management activities across SWR, shaping how Thames Water understands and works with strategic suppliers throughout the procurement and delivery lifecycle. You’ll build strong, long‑term partnerships, increase visibility of our supply chain, engage and prepare the market for the scale of SWR procurements, drive value, improve supplier performance, and position Thames Water as the client of choice for suppliers in the water and infrastructure sectors.

• Develop and implement a coordinated supply chain engagement plan to communicate with all potential suppliers relevant to your SCM portfolio.
• Undertake capability and capacity analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks in the marketplace, ensuring Thames Water remains an informed client.
• Promote a culture of excellent supply chain relationships, based on trust and transparency, enhancing Thames Water’s reputation in the marketplace.
• Lead market‑sounding exercises relating to your SCM portfolio and contribute to others as required.
• Lead meetings, workshops, and engagement events to support the delivery of SCM within SWR.
• Build strategic, long‑term relationships with critical suppliers to align delivery with SWR and business objectives.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on supplier performance against KPIs and SLAs, escalating and intervening where needed.
• Lead contract discussions, support negotiations, and manage compliance with contractual, commercial, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to enhance value, reduce cost, improve delivery performance, and drive continuous improvement with suppliers.
• Act as the primary escalation point for vendor performance issues, working with internal teams to resolve service challenges quickly and effectively.
• Use performance insights, benchmarking, and market intelligence to shape supplier strategies and commercial approaches.
• Deliver timely and accurate reporting in accordance with SCM programme governance.

36 hours, Monday to Friday

• Experience of major infrastructure projects, either client‑side or contractor‑side, within a supply chain function.
• Proven experience in developing and delivering supplier or stakeholder engagement programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, lead, and manage work streams or initiatives end‑to‑end‑
• Solid understanding of activity scheduling, planning methodologies, and project management best practices.
• Strong knowledge of the commercial and contract delivery lifecycle, including market engagement, procurement, and delivery phases.
• Awareness of government policies, initiatives, and best practices related to supply chain management (SCM) in the built environment.
• Understanding of various procurement routes and relevant procurement legislation.
• Strong analytical, commercial, and negotiation skills.
• Skilled in producing clear, well‑structured documents and reports for diverse audiences, including senior internal stakeholders.
• Excellent stakeholder management capabilities, with the ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external partners.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) or equivalent tools.
• Highly organised, with experience managing…