Where strategy meets success, join our team.
About us
United Utilities’ (UU) purpose is to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society.
We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.
We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long‑term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.
We’ve got a lot to offer. You’ll be part of a thriving FTSE 100 company and will enjoy a range of core benefits that reflect your value and value contribution.
Salary – Competitive Salary
Work Type – Hybrid
Job Location – Lingley Mere (UU), Lingley Green Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 3LP
Role Type – Permanent
Employment Type – Full Time
* A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service (increases one day per year), in addition to 8 bank holidays
* A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
* Car cash allowance - £5,000
* Up to 20% performance‑related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
* A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company‑funded scheme
* MyGymDiscounts - gym and wellness benefit that offers up to 25% off on gym memberships and digital fitness subscriptions
* Best Doctors
* Salary Finance
* Wealth at Work courses
* Deals and discounts
* EVolve Car Scheme
* Employee Assistance Plan
* Mental health first aiders
* ShareBuy
* Enhanced parental leave schemes
Job Purpose
The Head of Commercial Operations, Planning and Performance will provide strategic leadership across the function on all commercial operational matters, driving cross‑team and key stakeholder collaboration.
Ensuring effective management of resources, training budgets, workforce capability, sourcing governance and continuous improvement, procurement policy, spend analytics, technology enablement, commercial team people development, supplier collaboration, systems, regulatory standards, risk, governance, compliance and communications.
* Work collaboratively across the Commercial function to ensure a consistent adoption of good practice tools, systems, frameworks, and ways of working.
* Responsible for ensuring commercial operational excellence, across sourcing, policy, process, governance, data & analytics, risk, and procurement technology, focused on capability and agile resourcing to enable delivery at pace.
* Accountable for the development and on‑going evolution of the full and light business partnering models.
* Oversee all internal and external communications to strengthen employee engagement and enhance the organisation’s external brand
This role is accountable for driving transformation and continuous improvement initiatives, managing the functional budget, and delivering efficiencies. The postholder will also provide high‑quality management information to support Executive and Board‑level decision‑making.
Accountabilities & Responsibilities
Resource & Budget Leadership
* Lead and manage all resource planning and training budgets across the directorate.
* Ensure optimal allocation of the budget to maximise efficiency and value for customers.
* Monitor financial performance and deliver efficiency savings.
Capability Management
* Own and oversee capability frameworks for all roles within the function.
* Drive workforce planning, skills development, and succession planning.
* Champion professional development and continuous learning culture.
* Modernise Commercial and improve service delivery.
* Embed continuous improvement methodologies to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and customer outcomes. Direct the conception and delivery of continuous improvement programmes in support of the Commercial strategy.
* Identify and implement innovative solutions to optimise processes and systems.
Communications & Engagement
* Lead all internal communications across the function to drive improved employee engagement, clarity, and alignment.
* Oversee external communications to strengthen the organisation’s brand, reputation, and stakeholder confidence.
* Ensure consistent, transparent, and impactful messaging that supports cultural transformation and strategic priorities.
Commercial & Supply Chain
* Accountable for the development and management of a Supplier Collaboration Framework for use by the Supplier Collaboration capability and the relevant business service owners in their delivery of strategic supplier cost, risk, performance, relationship, and innovation led value.
* Accountability for the development, improvement, and implementation of good practice market and sourcing framework for use by the Category Delivery teams.
* Recognised throughout UU and the external market for their commercial operational expertise. Bring innovation, expertise, and ideas back into UU to solve real business problems and support the delivery and success of the wide Commercial function.
* Ensure compliance with regulatory and governance requirements
Management Information & Reporting
* Provide accurate, timely, and insightful management information to the Executive team and Board.
* Responsible for facilitating the creation of detailed and business personalised spend reports, for use by the market and sourcing teams in their business partnering engagement.
* Provides a clear, consolidated view of Commercial and supplier performance across UU.
* Own the Commercial systems driving consistent administration.
Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
* Leadership of the Commercial Operations team, comprising business planning, and driving continuous improvement in sourcing, people development, spend analytics, supplier collaboration, policy, process, risk, governance, and compliance capability, fostering collaboration and high performance.
* Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align capability with organisational priorities.
* Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on operational capability, communications, and efficiency.
Technical Skills & Experience
* Education: Degree level or higher, or equivalent in a numerate discipline or demonstrable extensive leadership experience
* A demonstrable depth of commercial/procurement leadership and problem solving experience in large/complex organisations and regulated environments.
* Strong financial acumen with experience managing multi‑million‑pound budgets and delivering significant efficiency savings.
* Experience with category, sourcing, supplier management good practice and frameworks.
* Proven solution driven, value‑led approach, with issue resolution skill set.
* People and team management experience.
* Expertise in workforce planning, capability frameworks, and organisational development.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt and to present complex information clearly to Executive, Board, and external audiences and business partnering skillset.
* Inspirational leadership style, able to motivate and engage diverse teams.
* Strategic thinker with a pragmatic approach to delivery.
* Demonstrate excellent presentation, negotiation skills, organisational skills, ability to plan and manage own time.
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
* Education: Degree level or higher, or equivalent in a numerate discipline or demonstrable extensive leadership experience
Other
We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.
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