Supplier Performance Manager

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 Performance 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 5.4 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 Performance Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring supplier and commercial performance data is actively owned, effectively interpreted, and translated into meaningful actions that protect operational continuity and maximise value. Operating with a strategic, “bird’s eye view” across Yorkshire Water’s supplier base, contracts, and business functions, the role leverages organisational data and insights to identify opportunities for commercial optimisation, manage supplier-related risks, and support informed decision-making. The position is instrumental in strengthening Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) through the application of data-driven insights, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and evaluating the potential of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance supplier performance, innovation, and long-term value delivery.

Where you fit in

As our Supplier Performance Manager you will

• Own and manage supplier performance data, ensuring accuracy, consistency, strong governance, and the translation of insights into meaningful actions that improve business and supplier performance.
• Analyse supplier, contract, financial, and operational performance data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and areas for commercial optimisation and value creation.
• Proactively identify supplier-related risks and develop mitigation strategies that protect operational continuity, strengthen resilience, and support strategic risk management.
• Lead the development and application of supplier segmentation models, ensuring Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approaches align with business priorities, risk profiles, and value potential.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-led interventions, promoting innovation and assessing the use of AI and digital technologies to enhance supplier performance, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Produce high-quality reporting, insights, and recommendations for Quarterly Business Reviews, executive-level reporting, and governance forums to support evidence-based decisions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Procurement, Operations, Finance, ESG teams, regulators, industry bodies, suppliers, and local authorities, acting as a trusted commercial advisor.
• Champion a culture of collaboration, commercial awareness, safety, compliance, and continuous improvement, driving productivity gains, supporting the future direction of the function, and ensuring alignment with Yorkshire Water’s strategic and regulatory objectives.

What skills & qualifications you will need

• Qualified to at least MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent
• Strong understanding of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) principles, supplier performance frameworks, commercial contract management, and best practice supply chain processes.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and generate actionable insights that drive business improvement and value creation.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and performance improvement initiatives across suppliers, contracts, and business functions.
• Knowledge of data analysis, performance metrics, reporting frameworks, and emerging technologies, including the application of AI within commercial and supply chain environments.
• Proven experience in commercial, procurement, supplier management, or related roles, with a track record of using data to influence decision-making and improve performance.
• Experience applying SRM frameworks, supplier segmentation models, performance management systems, and contributing to executive reporting and governance processes.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, with the ability to present insights and recommendations effectively at senior and executive levels.
• Collaborative, resilient, and results-driven with a strategic mindset, strong sense of ownership and accountability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, innovation, and continuous improvement.

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 Performance 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.