Senior Commercial Manager

Our people are what makes Severn Trent a truly exciting and inclusive place to work. We’re a team of over 7,000 people, united by a shared purpose to deliver one of life’s essentials – water – while thriving in a unique and supportive culture.

We’re a growing, Midlands‑based FTSE 100 organisation and we welcome people from all walks of life. We celebrate individuality, because we know that diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us learn, innovate and better serve the customers and communities we represent.

It’s an exciting time to join us. As we enter our next five‑year regulatory period (AMP8), we have ambitious plans to deliver bigger and better than ever before. If you’re looking for a challenging, rewarding career where you can make a genuine impact, Severn Trent is the place to be.

We’re looking for a Senior Commercial Manager to join our Procurement team, leading our Energy, Innovation and non‑regulated contracts portfolio.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

This is a senior leadership role in our Procurement & Contract Management team, reporting to the Head of PCM. You’ll lead how we buy, manage and get the best value from key goods and services that keep Severn Trent running – today and in the future.

You’ll take ownership of a high‑value portfolio covering Energy, Innovation and commercial support across several Severn Trent Group businesses. With spend running into the hundreds of millions, this role gives you real influence and the chance to shape strategy as the portfolio continues to grow.

Leading a team of around 10 procurement professionals, you’ll set direction, develop people and work closely with senior leaders and suppliers. Your work will help us deliver great outcomes for customers, support our environmental goals and play a part in building a more sustainable future.

The water industry is changing fast, and so are we. If you enjoy leading people, solving complex commercial problems and making things better, this is a role where your impact will be seen and felt.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE

To succeed in this role, you’ll be an experienced and commercially minded leader who enjoys working in complex, fast‑moving environments and building strong relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.

You’ll bring:

Broad experience in Procurement and Contract Management, ideally within a regulated environment (utilities experience is advantageous but not essential)
Proven leadership capability, with experience of managing and developing high‑performing teams
A strong track record of delivering sourcing strategies, managing multi‑million‑pound contracts and complex supplier relationships
Experience leading tenders and supplier negotiations, with assurance against the Procurement Act 2023 and legacy UCR regulations
Strong stakeholder‑management skills, with confidence engaging at senior and executive level
The ability to think strategically, analyse data and make sound commercial decisions, even where information may be incomplete
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor your style to different audiences
Solid knowledge of contract law and different commercial contract forms
Confidence using systems and tools such as SAP, Excel, Word and PowerPoint (experience with SAP Ariba is highly beneficial)
A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel within the region

Qualifications

CIPS qualified (or equivalent)
Typically 10+ years’ experience in Procurement and/or Contract Management

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Working here isn’t just a job — you can build a career at Severn Trent. We’ll reward you for it too, with a fantastic range of benefits that recognise great work and support your development, wellbeing and work‑life balance.

Here are just some of our favourite perks of being part of the Severn Trent family:

31 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
Annual bonus scheme (of up to 20% of base salary per annum based on company performance)
Company car allowance
Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
Family friendly policies
Two volunteering days per year

WHAT’S NEXT

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and around five minutes to complete the application.

If your curiosity has been piqued and you’d like to find out more about life at Severn Trent, search #LifeAtSevernTrent on social media.

P.S. We’ll always let you know the outcome of your application after the closing date — so keep an eye on your phone and emails.