Commercial Manager - Transformation

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience £65,000 - £70,000 
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 15% bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Car Allowance (£6,000)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an two extra wellness days!
• Private health care (Self only)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great benefits package – choose from a salary sacrifice scheme, health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover. 
• Retail savings scheme 
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Where I’d work:  This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future. There will hybrid working in place, with an expectation to be in the office for 1-2 days per week.

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

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 plays a critical role in enabling the business to deliver its long‑term strategy and maintain financial stability through effective procurement and commercial management. The function works closely with the wider business and supply chain to secure value, manage risk, and ensure robust commercial outcomes.

Within Commercial Services, Commercial Excellence leads our Centre of Excellence approach—setting clear standards, improving processes, and building sustainable capability across the department. This role leads the day-to-day delivery of that team, ensuring activity is aligned to strategy while maintaining oversight of commercial performance, programmes, and change. It drives clarity on “what good looks like”, translates performance into actionable insight, and works closely with senior stakeholders to align priorities, improve outcomes, and embed lasting change across the business.

Where you fit in:

• Lead Commercial Excellence across Commercial Services, aligning delivery to strategic priorities and driving high performance, standards, and compliance
• Develop and continuously improve operating models, standards, and ways of working, defining “what good looks like” across the function
• Build strong senior stakeholder relationships, acting as a key interface to drive alignment, consistency, and focus on outcomes
• Influence and challenge leaders to improve performance, maximise value, and embed sustainable change
• Support capability development, ensuring teams have the clarity, tools, and skills to deliver effectively
• Provide end-to-end oversight of commercial activity and performance, ensuring the department has a clear, integrated view to support leadership decision-making.
• Deliver the Commercial Excellence roadmap, Enabling a portfolio of programmes and change initiatives with clear prioritisation, governance, and pace, ensuring benefits are realised and embedded into business-as-usual
• Translate performance into actionable insight

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Proven leadership capability, with experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and driving high performance
• Ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels, translating direction into delivery
• Strong stakeholder leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and align senior stakeholders
• Experience developing or applying operating models, governance or performance frameworks
• Excellent analytical capability, able to turn complex commercial and performance data into clear insight, decisions, and action
• Broad understanding of commercial, operational and delivery environments, and how performance interconnects across a function
• Experience managing complex portfolios and competing priorities, maintaining pace and focus on outcomes
• A track record of leading and embedding change, delivering sustainable improvements in ways of working

You will also benefit from having:

• Experience working in a matrix, cross-functional environment
• Background in Commercial, Procurement or regulated industries
• Understanding of UK regulatory environments (ideally utilities)
• Knowledge of change management, continuous improvement, or transformation methodologies

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 in framework management 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 is 16th July

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.