Supplier Relationship Manager

Supplier Relationship Manager

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £74,000 - £79,500 (band 3b)
• A company car lease/allowance scheme (£500 per month/£6,000 per year, based on full-time employment on joining the company). You can opt to sign up to the EV Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme 6 months after joining the company.
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 15% of annual salary)
• Private health care (self only)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus 2 extra wellness days!
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: We are planning for this role to be based in our Leeds Valley Park office from end of Summer 2026 (any changes to this schedule may result in the role being based in Bradford in the short term). Hybrid Working (2 days office a week)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Supplier Relationship Manager to join the Commercial Services team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Commercial Services are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

The Supplier Relationship Manager plays a pivotal role in embedding and sustaining a mature Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach across Yorkshire Water, ensuring both the organisation and its supply chain partners operate strategically rather than through transactional or tactical behaviours. The role champions the value of SRM across the business, building and nurturing strong, collaborative relationships with strategic and critical suppliers to unlock innovation, drive continuous improvement, and maximise value. Working closely with supplier relationship owners and internal stakeholders, the role supports the delivery of long-term supplier performance, cost efficiencies, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) outcomes, helping to create a resilient, high-performing, and future-focused supply chain.

Where you fit in:

As our Supplier Relationship Manager you will

• Champion and embed Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) principles, governance frameworks, and best practices across Yorkshire Water, driving a consistent strategic approach to supplier engagement and preventing a drift into transactional behaviours.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to relationship owners and stakeholders, supporting the ongoing development and maturity of SRM processes, governance structures, tools, and ways of working.
• Support operational leads in managing strategic and critical supplier relationships, ensuring alignment with business objectives and fostering trusted partnerships that deliver long-term mutual value.
• Facilitate structured engagement between Yorkshire Water and suppliers, identifying and mitigating risks while maximising opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and improved performance.
• Drive value creation through continuous improvement initiatives, cost efficiencies, supplier innovation, and the delivery of measurable business benefits while embedding ESG priorities across supplier performance frameworks.
• Promote and enhance the effective use of SRM tools, including supplier relationship reviews, innovation hubs, scorecards, and performance dashboards, ensuring insights are translated into actionable outcomes.
• Lead supplier engagement strategies, forums, and communications, acting as a key escalation point for complex relationship issues and strengthening Yorkshire Water’s reputation as a collaborative and forward-thinking partner.
• Work collaboratively across Commercial, Operations, Procurement, Finance, and ESG teams to drive cultural change, manage strategic risks, ensure regulatory compliance, promote health and safety excellence, and deliver industry-leading performance, productivity, and continuous improvement.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Qualified to at least MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent
• Proven experience in Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), commercial, procurement, or contract management roles, with a strong track record of managing strategic supplier relationships in complex organisations.
• Strong understanding of SRM principles, supplier performance management, continuous improvement methodologies, and the delivery of value through supplier collaboration, innovation, and cost efficiencies.
• Knowledge of commercial and contract management practices, with an understanding of ESG requirements and their application across supply chains and supplier performance frameworks.
• Experience of leading or contributing to SRM programmes and driving best practice, with a focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and identifying new ways of working.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective alliances and engage colleagues, suppliers, and partners to achieve shared business objectives.
• Strong commercial awareness and sound judgement, with the resilience, drive, determination, and disciplined approach required to operate successfully in a complex and changing environment.
• Knowledge of the utility sector, particularly the water industry and its regulatory landscape, with experience of working within regulated or infrastructure-based environments being highly desirable.
• Collaborative, proactive, and relationship-focused leader, committed to outstanding safety performance, organisational excellence, and delivering sustainable business improvements through strong supplier partnerships.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you’ve got experience as a Supplier Relationship Manager and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

Closing date – 18th August

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.