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.
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
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.
PEOPLE THRIVE AT WATES
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
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
Technical Services Director
Location: London
Job Type: Engineering
Application Deadline: 21-04-2025
ABOUT US. Are you a technically strong FM leader? At Wates FM, we are looking for an experienced Technical Services Director to join the team to provide technical guidance and leadership to the FM business. Reporting to the FM Managing Director, this strategic role will be accountable for the Wates FM mobile engineering and direct delivery team(s). The purpose is to lead and build a best-in-class operational service, that supports our existing sectors and future growth ambitions. As a key member of the FM leadership team, you will be the go-to for all Technical Services related matters, ensuring value, driving innovation and building an effective digital mobile engineering provision that supports a variety of customers and sectors nationally. ABOUT THE ROLE Responsibilities: Lead and build a safe and effective national mobile engineering provision (Hard FM Services – predominately M&E). Develop and implement team performance KPI dashboards in order to monitor and manage operational performance and compliance. Maximising additional revenue/margin through project work, customer investment, and new opportunities. Deep engineering and technical focus to provide good client experience and service efficiencies. Set strategic goals for the operation, cost centre controls and increased productivity focused on capacity versus demand. Identifying opportunities for asset improvement and lifecycle enhancements under a continuous improvement framework. Provide reports to senior leadership with commentary on any issues and suggestions on necessary improvements. Actively look to identify and develop opportunities to enhance the business performance with Strategic Accounts Contribute to and take part in tenders for new business as required. Ensure effective business continuity arrangements are in place and regularly tested Full cost centre management responsibility Monitor cost centre profitability and compliance Structure an effective operation promoting support and performance to the front line ABOUT YOU You are somebody who has… Previous experience in size and complexity of managing FM mobile engineering business, multiple sites and clients Growth mindset – experienced in change and finding/embedding operational efficiencies. Has an ability to think and plan strategically for future growth and development in their business area. Excellent leadership skills which include the ability to influence at every level to deliver outstanding results and inspire teams to engage and deliver. Shape and influence a strong value driven culture, where site safety is championed at every level, behaviours are aligned with Wates Foundations behaviours Drive a continuous improvement culture of coaching and development Ability to manage multiple complex issues and prioritise effectively Demonstrate a pro-active approach to risk management and value-add. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: NEBOSH/IOSH HNC/HND Technical qualification in Mechanical and Electrical (M&E), an in-depth understanding of Building Services Engineering compliance. Exceptional stakeholder engagement abilities at senior levels. WHAT WE OFFER Attractive Salary & benefits, including pension, car allowance Opportunities to add Social Value Advancement of career long term with professional qualifications. A BIT ABOUT US Being a family-owned business means we understand and value long term relationships. We are community minded, and our work is guided by inspiring better ways of creating the places, communities, and businesses of tomorrow. It’s our people who make Wates successful. We will only achieve our strategic objectives if we recruit and retain the best people and operate in an environment underpinned by inclusivity, diversity, and opportunity. We offer industry-leading family friendly and flexible working opportunities that reflect the changing expectations of talent and enable you to manage personal and professional commitments as part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. As a responsible and inclusive employer, offering equal opportunities, we are proud to have been recognised through our Investors in People Gold accreditation and Disability Confident Leaders certification. So, if you’d like to work for an inclusive organisation which invests in you and your continued career development, and you’re looking for your next challenge, we’d like to hear from you. To find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/ 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
Mobile Engineer
Location: Romford
Job Type: Engineering
Application Deadline: 18-04-2025
Mobile Engineer – Air ConditioningLocation: SoutheastJob Type: Full TimeContract Type: PermanentHere at Wates, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Mobile Engineer to join our Facilities Management mobile team supporting our clients based in the South East area. The main objective is for you to carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) to HVAC plant, including Reactive Maintenance and extra works/emergencies in accordance with the contract requirements on Mechanical Services. Due to the nature of the works, we are exceptionally keen to speak to candidates with a strong background in air conditioning.ABOUT YOUTo be successful in this role, you will ideally have the following:· Fgas Cat 1· Level 2 NVQ in AC· Knowledge of Heating & Air Conditioning Systems· Strong Electrical & HVAC Experience· Have previously worked as a mobile FM engineerWhat is important to us is your natural communication skills to deliver high levels of customer service at all times, your ability to effectively multi-task, work to tight deadlines and problem solve on the job; whilst always promoting health & safety excellence.ABOUT THE ROLEKey Accountabilities will include:· Ensure all works are delivered in guidance of the legislation and contractual obligations· Utilise CAFM/PDA technology for real time job updates, and provide detailed/comprehensive reports on works delivered· To respond in a prompt and effective manner to all reactive maintenance issues and help desk requests associated with the heating and ventilation systems, pumps, water tanks, valves, pipe work and associated mechanical systems or items· To respond to call outs and cover breakdowns and emergencies associated with the mechanical services aspects of the contract as required.In return, we offer a competitive salary, additional pay when on call, along with 22 days holiday, Pension benefits, life Insurance, and a flexible benefits scheme that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.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
Mobile Engineer
Location: Slough
Job Type: Engineering
Application Deadline: 18-04-2025
Mobile Engineer – Air ConditioningLocation: SoutheastJob Type: Full TimeContract Type: PermanentHere at Wates, we have a fantastic opportunity for a Mobile Engineer to join our Facilities Management mobile team supporting our clients based in the South East area. The main objective is for you to carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) to HVAC plant, including Reactive Maintenance and extra works/emergencies in accordance with the contract requirements on Mechanical Services. Due to the nature of the works, we are exceptionally keen to speak to candidates with a strong background in air conditioning.ABOUT YOUTo be successful in this role, you will ideally have the following:· Fgas Cat 1· Level 2 NVQ in AC· Knowledge of Heating & Air Conditioning Systems· Strong Electrical & HVAC Experience· Have previously worked as a mobile FM engineerWhat is important to us is your natural communication skills to deliver high levels of customer service at all times, your ability to effectively multi-task, work to tight deadlines and problem solve on the job; whilst always promoting health & safety excellence.ABOUT THE ROLEKey Accountabilities will include:· Ensure all works are delivered in guidance of the legislation and contractual obligations· Utilise CAFM/PDA technology for real time job updates, and provide detailed/comprehensive reports on works delivered· To respond in a prompt and effective manner to all reactive maintenance issues and help desk requests associated with the heating and ventilation systems, pumps, water tanks, valves, pipe work and associated mechanical systems or items· To respond to call outs and cover breakdowns and emergencies associated with the mechanical services aspects of the contract as required.In return, we offer a competitive salary, additional pay when on call, along with 22 days holiday, Pension benefits, life Insurance, and a flexible benefits scheme that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.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
Regional Commercial Director
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: Commercial
Application Deadline: 18-04-2025
The VacancyWe have a new opportunity for a Regional Commercial Director to join our Wates Living Space team based out of our London office.Reporting into the Commercial Director, you will provide strategic support as well as lead the commercial team on all matters relating to procurement, strategy, risk management, pre and post contract as well as margin improvement and people development.You will join an experienced team to cover all regional commercial activities across the South EastKey Accountabilities will include: Full responsibility for profitability of projects across the region Take responsibility for developing, leading and implementing the project commercial strategy Take responsibility for staff allocation and resource planning Ensure compliance with Wates governance Ensure all H&S strategies are effectively communicated to the Commercial Team To provide independent and effective challenge to the business, to focus on early warning and intervention, and to ensure that the Wates Property Services commercial objectives, Professional Standards and governance are always implemented Support the work winning team in growing the business, specifically validating costs, assessing risk and identifying win themes.To be successful in the role you will be an effective communicator with excellent leadership skills to influence at all levels and to deliver profitable results whilst also inspiring and developing the team to engage and deliver. You will also have previously managed housing maintenance projects across multiple sites.