Procurement

We procure a range of products and services and spend over £1bn a year with our supply chain, helping local communities to thrive. Join us and we’ll help your career do the same.

The best place to develop your career

Join our family…

We are committed to responsible and ethical procurement. We only work with organisations which share our commitments to high quality and sustainability.

We have a huge range of opportunities in our team from Procurement Administrator, up to procurement and supply chain Directors.  Key roles include Procurement Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Category Manager, Data Analyst, Reporting Analyst and Compliance Manager. You can start as an apprentice or assistant and work your way up.

Wates is a friendly, family-owned, very successful business. How you progress is up to you – you can stay within your same area of expertise or move into other parts of the business. It’s an interesting, rewarding career.  We believe in promoting from within, and we’ll give you all the training and support you need to grow. There’s no better place to build your career.

Discover Our comprehensive range of services

People thrive at Wates

About you…

Whether you have construction experience, fancy a career change, or are returning to work after a break, we’d love to hear from you.

Ideally, we’d like you to have experience in the role in a similar business. A procurement or commercial background would be good too. Most importantly, it’s about the qualities you bring. We’re looking for people with a ‘can do’ attitude. Someone who’s friendly, open minded, engaging and prepared to work in a collective way.  

Regarding transferable skills, you should understand negotiation and contracts. Leading workshops and presenting skills would also be useful.

We have different roles within procurement, so we can range from people having experience to MSIPS chartered, CIOB qualification at a senior level.

Testimonials

Hear from our people

Sarah Kemp

Senior Buyer

"When I joined Wates, I had just left a decade long career in Fashion – a very different world to Construction! I had no industry experience and little knowledge of the sector, but right from the start, I could tell that this was a business that I wanted to work for. Everyone I spoke to before joining was friendly, professional and knowledgeable and this gave me confidence in my career move. There is a very supportive culture at Wates that has a true family feel. It is friendly but professional and everyone is approachable and helpful. The flexibility that Wates offer was something that, as a working mum of two, was attractive to me, as were the opportunities to develop and progress. All of this, together with their focus on looking after their employees and the numerous benefits they offer, makes it a great place to work. I feel very fortunate to work at Wates and would recommend it to anyone looking to advance their career in a company that values and challenges its employees.”

Careers in procurement

Want to be a part of our team?

Grow your career with us in procurement and supply chain. From entry-level to director roles, we offer strong support and growth opportunities

Document Controller

Location: Swindon

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 25-11-2025

📢 We're Hiring: Document Controller📍 Location: Swindon📄 Specialism: Full lifecycle document control for cover lodgements and funding processes About the RoleAre you a detail-oriented Document Controller with hands-on experience using Dalux? We're looking for someone to take ownership of the entire document control process—from initial cover lodgements to securing project funding.As a Document Controller, you’ll be the central point for managing project information, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely distribution across the team.Key Responsibilities Maintain and manage all project documentation and records. Ensure compliance with design management procedures. Distribute controlled copies of documents and drawings. Check drawings for correct status and formatting. Liaise with designers and suppliers to resolve document-related queries. Train team members and suppliers on the drawing management system. Troubleshoot issues with document systems and peripherals. Provide guidance on document access and procedures. Use collaboration tools and document management systems to meet project needs. Act as administrator for collaboration tools if nominated.What You’ll BringKnowledge of: Contracts and documentation Environmental legislation Health & safety Risk management Life cycle cost principlesSkills: High attention to detail Strong organisational skills Team-oriented approachQualifications: No formal qualifications required-experience and capability are key!💼 Why Join Us?Be a key player in a high-impact project. Own the document control process from start to finish. Work with cutting-edge tools like Dalux in a collaborative environment.📩 Ready to Apply?If you're experienced, proactive, and ready to take control of project documentation, we’d love to hear from you!Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Mobile Engineer

Location: Woking

Job Type: Engineering

Application Deadline: 25-11-2025

🔧 Mobile Engineer (Electrical Bias) – Surrey/Berkshire Location: Mobile – Covering Surrey and BerkshireContract Type: Full-time, PermanentQualifications Required: 18th Edition (BS7671)Are you an experienced Mobile Engineer, specifically with an electrical bias, looking for your next challenge? WPS is seeking a skilled and motivated professional to join our FM team, delivering high-quality maintenance services across a portfolio of sites in the Surrey and Berkshire area.🔍 About the Role:As a Mobile Engineer, you’ll be responsible for: Carrying out planned and reactive maintenance on electrical systems and associated building services. Diagnosing faults and carrying out repairs in a timely and efficient manner. Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations and company procedures. Providing excellent customer service to clients and stakeholders.✅ What We’re Looking For: 18th Edition – essential. Proven experience in a similar mobile engineering role. Strong electrical fault-finding and maintenance skills. Full UK driving licence. Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.🌟 What We Offer: Competitive salary and benefits package. Ongoing training and development opportunities. A supportive and inclusive working environment.Join a company that values its people and is committed to delivering excellence in facilities management.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Project Manager

Location: London, South East

Job Type: Operational

Application Deadline: 18-11-2025

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Project Manager – Mechanical to join our team in Surrey.Within the group, SES Engineering Services (SES) is the UK’s pre-eminent design-led Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) provider. SES specialises in the design and installation of building services and infrastructure solutions covering all aspects of M&E. We collaborate with our clients to ensure their environments and spaces function just as they need them to. The drive for excellence and innovation is part of our DNA, underpinning our success and development as the partner of choice in the built environment.Reporting to the Operations Director, the role will require the successful candidate to provide direction and leadership to the delivery team. Taking responsibility for the delivery of excellent operational performance and managing both directly employed and subcontracted resources, ensuring they are managed and motivated to deliver cost effective, and high quality customer focused outputs and importantly zero harm.Key Accountabilities will include:Your main accountability is to have overall responsibility of the Building Services installation on your projects from first design through to Smart Landings.Your main challenges are to deliver a quality installation, in line with our client’s expectations, maximise the profitability by smart design and early selection driving our cost whilst maintaining our standards.A bit about you:You will be a qualified engineer who will drive the design, co-ordination, delivery and handover of all projects.To be successful in this role, you will have a proven track record in project management construction, particularly within the residential, commercial, Pharmaceutical, mixed use and office environments or similar related projects with values between £6-20 million. Ideally, you will have experience of demonstrating responsibility for full Contract Management at this level.A bit about us:Wates is one of the largest and most successful family-owned private construction, development and property services companies in the UK. Our vision is to become the most trusted partner in the built environment with an ambition to become a £2bn turnover business.As a progressive and rewarding business we offer our people the opportunity to grow their careers whilst working together to deliver the promises we make to our customers.Our company values of integrity, intelligence, performance, teamwork and respect for people, communities and the environment run through our business at every level and are at the heart of everything we do.The wellbeing and safety of our people is our priority, therefore creating a zero harm culture and encouraging a healthy work-life balance is important to us. Wates Group are a responsible and inclusive employer and are proud to have been recognized for this through accolades including C2E (Committed to Equality) and Investors in People (Gold).We value each employee as an individual and offer flexible and competitive packages to support that.What we offer Competitive salary Car allowance / company car Travel expenses covered Flexible working and hybrid options Private medical, pension (6% employer contribution), and wellness programmes Career progression through PDPs and PDRs Enhanced family leave benefits Supportive onboarding and team culture

Recruitment Administrator

Location: Liverpool

Job Type: Recruitment

Application Deadline: 25-11-2025

Are you an experienced Recruitment Administrator based in or near Knowsley?Join our WPS/Liberty recruitment team on a 12 month FTC contract. Add value in offering valuable service delivery to the wider business by maintaining accurate recruitment data for reporting and compliance, posting job adverts and ATS management, scheduling interviews, liaising with hiring managers and candidates, supporting pre-employment checks and offer documentation & coordinating onboarding logistics with HR and wider team/sYour roleBe responsible for supporting the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for candidates and hiring managers. The position is essential to the delivery of high quality talent acquisition services, from job posting to onboarding and coordinating all aspects of permanent, and temporary agency recruitment administration.What We Need from You. A good level of education Previous recruitment assistant/administrator experience along with good IT literacy including Excel, Outlook & Word The ability to coordinate, manage and balance multiple projects and meet deadlines, and provide an outstanding recruitment service to the Hiring Managers. If you are passionate about recruitment, this is the ideal job for you!Why Liberty?We’re a diverse, supportive team with a focus on personal development, wellbeing, and making a real difference in the communities we serve. Liberty offers you a chance to work with the best in the industry and continuously improve your skills while enjoying a rewarding career.