The Role
At Pennon Group, we’re proud to be leading the way in the water and renewables industries. Alongside our subsidiaries - South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power - we’re committed to delivering a sustainable future of our region. Because we know that by continually driving up our standards today, we’ll build a better tomorrow for our communities.
We currently have a great permanent opportunity for a Procurement Business Partner to join our team based in Exeter, Bristol, or Redhill. This is a hybrid role with 2 days per week in the office and the remainder of time working from home. You will receive a competitive salary of up to £52,000 per annum plus excellent benefits.
About the role:
As Procurement Business Partner, you will support our Corporate Services, IT and Customer Services teams. You will have opportunity to develop and monitor strategies for allocated categories of spend to support purchasing requirements across the business area for the full procurement lifecycle including sourcing, contract management and supplier management.
This is a great opportunity for you demonstrate a strong commercial focus and drive efficiency to support the management of commercial risks and opportunities for the Pennon Group.
What you'll be doing:
- Procurement Business Partnering: Advise and challenge senior stakeholders on procurement planning, ensuring compliance, accountability, and risk-aware decision-making across operational and capital spend.
- Category & Commercial Strategy: Own and deliver long-term procurement strategies for high-value/risk categories, providing expert market insights and aligning plans with strategic business goals.
- Sourcing & Contracting: Lead the end-to-end sourcing process using best practice tools, from contract design and tendering to negotiation and award recommendations, ensuring legal, regulatory, and commercial compliance.
- Contract & Supplier Management: Monitor and manage supplier performance, conduct due diligence, lead contract reviews, and drive continuous improvement through data-driven KPIs and stakeholder feedback.
- Commercial Support for Projects: Provide analytical and commercial input into key business decisions and investment cases, including risk modelling and evaluation of strategic procurement projects.
- Process Improvement & Governance: Ensure procurement processes align with corporate objectives, health & safety, and environmental standards, while championing continuous improvement and efficiency.
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Support team resilience through cross-coverage, align internal processes, and share expertise to build capability across the Procurement team and stakeholders.
What we're looking for:
- Strong commercial and strategic mind-set; understanding the role of Procurement in delivering corporate goals and managing risk
- Experience delivering efficiency/cost savings/value for money within a supply chain management function - with particular experience in the procurement of IT goods and services.
- Excellent verbal communication skills at all levels and the ability to recognise, plan and deliver business change.
- Proven strong negotiation and client/supply chain management experience; managing cost and value drivers effectively
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with a proven ability to communicate, support and challenge people across different business functions, backgrounds and all levels of seniority.
- Working knowledge of UK/EU Procurement Regulations and different forms of contracts and commercial models.
- A CIPS qualification (or working towards) would also be highly desirable
- Knowledge of ERP systems SRM sourcing and e-procurement tools
What's in it for you:
- We know that the support and commitment of our staff is key to our success so you will receive the opportunity for ongoing development and training for a long-term career with us. We’re one of the largest companies in the South West and are proud to have been awarded Investors in People recognition.
- In return, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays
- A discretionary Bonus
- Competitive Contributory Pension
- Share-save Scheme
- Various health benefits
- Wellbeing support programmes
- A range of Group Discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Financial support services
- And plenty more!
Closing date: 30th July 2025
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values which are essential to our success are:
Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
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The Company
What We Do
South West Water is part of Pennon Group plc. We provide reliable, efficient and high quality drinking water and waste water services throughout Cornwall and Devon and in small areas of Dorset and Somerset. We also look after the region's bathing waters and coastline. South West Water came into being in 1989 with the privatisation of the water industry. We inherited a water system suffering from a century of neglect but, thanks to the tireless work of our 1,300 employees, have brought the region's drinking water, sewerage systems and bathing waters into line with the stringent UK and European Union standards. This extensive programme of environmental improvement has resulted in some of the finest bathing waters in Europe, picturesque scenery and clean rivers with stunning wildlife. We believe that by investing in the future of our region, we are not only improving the quality of life for today's residents and visitors but are also taking responsibility for future generations.
