Procurement & Commercial Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 10, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 10, 2026. SSE scores B on the Alion truth index.
Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in our Reading, Havant, Glasgow or Perth office. Travel to our Reading office will be required.
Salary: £Competitive + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.
Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available
The role
As Senior Procurement & Commercial Manager - Distribution, you’ll provide strategic procurement and commercial leadership across some of Distribution’s most significant transformation and investment activity.
You’ll lead the Procurement & Commercial support for the Bridge Programme, provide senior commercial oversight and governance of the Prime Delivery Partner contract, and help shape the commercial strategy and readiness required to support ED3.
Working with senior business leaders, programme teams and strategic suppliers, you’ll ensure complex commercial arrangements are effectively governed, risks and opportunities are understood, and commercial decisions deliver sustainable value for the business. You’ll provide constructive challenge and strategic commercial advice, ensuring contractual commitments, supplier performance, change, expenditure and emerging requirements are managed effectively.
You’ll also lead and develop a team of procurement and commercial professionals, creating clear accountability, building capability and empowering the team to deliver high-quality commercial outcomes.
You will
Lead and develop a high-performing Procurement & Commercial team, setting clear priorities and accountabilities while building the capability required to support complex programmes and strategic contracts.
Provide strategic P&C leadership across Bridge, Prime and ED3, shaping commercial strategy and ensuring alignment with Distribution’s business, investment and regulatory priorities.
Own and strengthen commercial governance for the Prime Delivery Partner arrangement, providing senior oversight of contractual obligations, commercial performance, risk, change, expenditure and key decisions.
Act as a trusted commercial adviser and constructive challenger to senior stakeholders, leading significant negotiations and providing clear recommendations on commercial risk, value, supplier performance and contractual matters.
Drive long-term value and continuous improvement, strengthening supplier relationships, improving commercial insight and establishing effective, scalable governance across Distribution’s strategic programmes.
You have
Significant procurement and commercial leadership experience within a complex, regulated, infrastructure, technology or transformation environment.
Proven experience leading the commercial strategy and governance of large-scale programmes, strategic contracts and complex supplier relationships.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, with extensive experience of contract negotiation, commercial governance, risk management, supplier performance and change.
The credibility and judgement to influence senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers, constructively challenge established positions and lead complex commercial decisions.
Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing procurement and commercial teams.
About SSE
SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.
Our Procurement & Commercial teams help us get the best service and value from partners, while ensuring suppliers meet compliance, contractual and business obligations.
Flexible benefits to fit your life
Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.
Work with an equal opportunity employer
SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [email protected] / 01738 344763 to discuss how we can support you.
We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.
Ready to apply?
Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We'll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we'll be taking your application further. If you're offered a role with SSE, you'll need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.
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