Procurement Specialist

Job Description

Circa £37k - £45k, salary depending on skills and experience

Permanent

Full time, 37 hours

Home working and Peterborough Office (2-3 days in the office)

Anglian Water offers a flexible approach; this role provides you the flexibility to work from home and from an Anglian Water office. Your base location will be Thorpe Wood House an Anglian Water site.

About the Role

Due to development of the Commercial Procurement Infrastructure & Operations team, we are recruiting a number of Procurement Specialist roles. We are seeking an experienced Procurement Specialist to join our team and lead strategic sourcing initiatives that deliver long-term value. We value individuals who are driven, enthusiastic, open-minded, and adaptable to different ways of working.

This is not a supply chain or transactional buying role – we are looking for someone who excels in negotiating complex commercial terms, drafting and managing contracts, and driving compliance and risk mitigation.

You will be responsible for creating and implementing procurement plans, as well as carrying out sourcing initiatives across a diverse range of spend categories, including innovative mechanical solutions, operational services, and construction (such as Civils, M&E, Fleet). With an annual departmental expenditure exceeding £650 million, this position ensures your impact is recognised and delivers significant value to the organisation.

You will work closely with stakeholders and suppliers to secure agreements that go beyond price, ensuring robust contractual frameworks that protect the organisation and enable performance excellence. In addition, you’ll collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, enhance supplier performance, and align procurement strategies with broader business objectives. An ability to work with the business to interpret needs and translate them into effective sourcing solutions is essential, good understanding of project management and stakeholder management skills will also be beneficial.

What We’re Looking For

The various roles we are recruiting for will require candidates with a range of experience levels, but you should have:

• Experience in development and management of strategic sourcing events

• Proven experience in contract negotiation and commercial term management.

• Strong understanding of contract structures and governance, including NEC contracts.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

• Commercial acumen with the ability to balance risk vs. value.

• A proactive mindset and collaborative working style.

• Enthusiasm and adaptability, with an open and positive approach to new ways of working

• Familiarity with public procurement regulations and compliance obligations (desirable).

• CIPS membership or commitment to work towards Level 4+ (desirable).

• Experience in procurement of operational services or strategic sourcing (desirable).

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and manage a portfolio of sourcing initiatives

• Deliver procurement strategies that add tangible value

• Lead and manage strategic sourcing events, independently or with support depending on experience.

• Lead tendering processes including contractual and commercial negotiations

• Draft and review contracts, ensuring clarity and compliance with organisational and regulatory requirements.

• Apply risk allocation and mitigation strategies within contractual agreements.

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, influencing decisions and challenging the status quo where necessary.

• Ensure contracts embed KPIs and service-level agreements to drive supplier performance.

• Maintain awareness of market dynamics and regulatory changes, including the Procurement Act 2023.

• Promote continuous improvement and innovation in procurement processes.

• Build market knowledge and a strong understanding of business needs and demand profiles

As a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to:

• Personal private health care

• 26 days annual leave – rising with length of service

• Flexible working

• Competitive pension scheme – Anglian Water double-matches your contributions up to 6%

• Bonus scheme

• Flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.

Why Anglian Water?

As the water sector continues to face major financial, regulatory and environmental challenges over the coming years, Anglian Water and its Partners have continued to set the pace with innovative ideas and solutions to ensure that we deliver an outstanding service to our customers.

As a result, we are looking for a self-motivated and self-assured Procurement Professionals with a sharp mind and who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

As you grow in the role, you’ll have access to development opportunities that support your career progression, including mentoring, training, and exposure to strategic projects. We’re committed to helping you build your procurement expertise in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

Closing date: 7th December 2025

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