Environmental Contracts Manager

This is an exciting opportunity where you will create and maintain dynamic partnerships with a broad range of environmental organisations by ensuring the successful development of new procurement routes and mutually beneficial contracts.

You will be maintaining strong, collaborative relationships that promote trust and mutual benefit, ensuring that all parties can meet their respective objectives while progressing shared environmental goals. By acting as the key commercial liaison, this position helps bridge organisational needs with partner expectations, ensuring alignment and smooth delivery of partnership agreements.

Please note this is a part-time position, 3 days a week.
 
What you’ll be doing as an Environmental Contracts Manager

Working alongside a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, you will support the co-creation and co-design of partnership schemes across multiple river catchments. This is fundamental to ensuring we deliver the right solutions, in the right way, with the right partners.

• Design and implement new procurement pathways that maximise the value of local environmental partnerships.
• Ensure suppliers and partners adhere to the necessary H&S standards; keep a record and regularly report on compliance.
• Draft, negotiate and oversee the implementation of commercial contracts. Ensure agreements are clear and support both river health initiatives and the business objectives of all parties. This includes monitoring compliance, addressing contract issues promptly and keeping detailed records.
• Build collaborative, trust-based relationships with a range of organisations (e.g., Environmental NGOs, Wildlife and Rivers Trusts). Be the primary liaison with commercial counterparts, ensuring open communication and proactive conflict resolution to strengthen partnerships over time.
• Work across internal teams and departments, such as commercial, legal and finance, to ensure partnership ventures are well supported.
• Identify and develop creative funding mechanisms to support partnership initiatives. Explore the use of innovative mechanisms such as reverse trading platforms.
• Oversee payment schedules, ensure timely invoicing, and report regularly to the Project Manager on progress.

Base location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB
 
What you should bring to the role

• Coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives through effective time management and meeting competing deadlines
• Proven track record in developing and managing commercial contracts
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders
• Financial acumen, including experience with budget management, payment tracking, and financial reporting
• Analytical skills to evaluate funding models, assess partnership success, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Experience in environmental management or projects specifically within the water sector is desirable
• Background in procurement or supply chain management, particularly with an emphasis on sustainability, is desirable.
• Familiarity with contract law, procurement processes, and regulatory compliance related to environmental projects.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary of up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays) 
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.