Commercial Frameworks Director

Warrington, England, United Kingdom

3/28/2025

Are you a strategic leader experienced in managing multidisciplinary teams with a passion for driving performance and efficiency?

Do you have extensive experience in managing high-value contracts and operational services?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

About Us

As a company, we want to create a stronger, greener and healthier North West , in Operations, that means focusing on how we can make things Simpler, Smarter, Better. Our plan for the next 5 years will see us embrace innovation and new ways of working to drive efficiency across Operations and this role will be vital in ensuring we have the right commercial strategy and delivery models in place. Equally important, this role will help us to ensure we deliver the value our customers expect through stringent contract management.

Context

• Our focus is to provide continuous, resilient and reliable water and wastewater services for over 7 million customers every day, ensuring clean water is available at their taps when they need it, and wastewater is taken away when it goes down their drains - our Operational teams, work alongside, and rely on, commercial partners every day to ensure the best possible service to customers.
• Our water colleagues are responsible for the supply of water to homes and businesses in the North West of England. We operate and maintain all of our water infrastructure and non-infrastructure assets in an efficient and effective manner. This allows us to distribute 1.7 billion litres of water a day to 3.2million homes and 200,000 businesses through the North West using 42,000km of water pipes. We operate in such a way that we minimise impact and disruption to these customers so that they enjoy a clean, reliable water supply 24 hours a day.
• Our Wastewater and Bioresources colleagues ensure sewage and trade waste is removed and disposed of safely whilst protecting the environment – our 77,000km of sewer network transports waste through to our many Ww Treatment works before it is treated and returned to the environment in line with the regulations.
• All of this activity is underpinned by our strong commercial agreements and working relationships with partners and effective contract management.
  
  

At United Utilities we are committed to delivering exceptional operational services and commercial frameworks that drive business success. With an annual supplier cost base of :£750m/year (:£3.5bn over AMP8) in operations, we are looking for a dynamic leader to shape our future strategies and ensure effective management of our commercial frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Performance: Lead operational, property, and framework management teams to achieve business results and continuous improvement.
• Commercial Vision: Set the overall commercial vision and strategy for Operational Services and manage established framework contracts.
• Strategic Relationships: Develop strategic relationships with framework suppliers to unlock additional value through efficiency and innovation.
• Contract Governance: Influence stakeholders and embed strong contract governance procedures throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Risk Management: Proactively manage commercial risk within the business area, minimizing exposure to Operations.
• Specialist Services: Set the strategy for specialist operational services, including Trade Effluent, Waste Recycling and Disposal, Bioprocessing, and Industrial Cleaning.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and lead initiatives to maximize revenue in waste management and bioprocessing functions.
• Property Services: Provide strategic direction to the property services team and develop long-term strategies for grounds maintenance services.
  
  

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience:

• Preferably degree educated.
• Extensive experience in leading and managing operational business functions with a track record of customer performance, budgetary management, and business performance management.
• Experience of driving commercial strategy and delivery through frameworks at scale (several £000m per year).
• Knowledge of commercial mechanisms, tools, and methodologies used across the utilities industry.
• Experience in SRM and Contract Management.
• Ability to influence senior management and support strategic agendas.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to manage relationships and influence key leaders at Executive and Director levels.
• Resilience and ability to cope with pressure and demands of a significant operational role.
• Financial awareness and commercial experience in managing budgets.
• Demonstrable track record of successful change delivery and project sponsorship.
  
  

Why Join Us?

At United Utilities we value innovation, effective commercial input, and supply chain management. We offer a collaborative and supportive environment where you can make a significant impact on our business strategy and operational success.

Benefits

• 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
• 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
• MORE Choices flexible benefits
• Enhanced parental leave schemes