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

Business Development Director

Location: Bristol

Job Type: Development

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

Wates are looking for a Business Development Director to join our Residential team covering Wales, Bristol and Southwest England. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the successful delivery of high-quality residential projects and bring new homes to local communities.We are looking for a Business Development Director to drive growth, strengthen partnerships, and expand our development and construction pipeline. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact while Supporting Wates Residential’s growth as the leading JV partner of choice for Local Authorities and Registered Providers.ABOUT THE ROLEAs our Business Development Director, you will: Review the market for relevant Joint Venture / Contractor opportunities. Analyse, against our selection criteria, key clients to target and prioritise. Be responsible for maintaining a strong and accurate pipeline of opportunities (short / medium / long-term) across the Region for both Joint Venture’s and Contracting opportunities in the sector. Be a crucial link of relaying pipeline and upcoming opportunities to regional Board, Pre-Construction Director and Business Growth Director. In conjunction with Business Growth Director, ensure potential JVs align to Residential’s investment profile. Be an ambassador for the Residential. You will be a visible member of the team internally and externally, often liaising with our clients, stakeholders and development partners, council leaders, planning authorities, central government, and residents and community groups.WHAT WE OFFER Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car Travel covered to any of our sites (subject to HMRC advisory rates) Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers’ contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity.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

Receptionist

Location: Newmarket

Job Type: Clerical & Administration

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

Join Us as a site based Receptionist on High-Profile, Groundbreaking ProjectsAre you ready to make an impact and elevate your career in the construction industry? Wates are on the hunt for a proactive and passionate Receptionist to join our renowned Major Projects Team. Based on site within Northern Home Counties, you’ll be part of a team that delivers some of the region’s most technically complex and innovative projects, shaping the world of tomorrow.Why Choose Wates?At Wates, we’re not just building projects; we’re building futures. Our teams thrive on challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries, and driving excellence. If you’re excited by the prospect of supporting cutting-edge construction projects, bringing fresh ideas to the table, and growing with one of the most forward-thinking companies in the industry, this is the role for you.Your Role as a Receptionist:As a pivotal member of our team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our project sites. Your work will empower our engineers and construction teams to deliver at their best. From coordinating day-to-day site activities to maintaining top-tier compliance, you’ll be at the heart of the action.In this role, you will:✅ Be the Backbone of the Team: Provide essential support to project and site-based teams, keeping everything running like clockwork.✅ Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee all administrative activities to ensure the seamless execution of project works.✅ Ensure Quality & Compliance: Take charge of auditing, maintaining, and training to uphold company standards across all sites.✅ Champion Health & Safety: Support the team in achieving or surpassing Health and Safety benchmarks.What Makes This Role Unique?This isn’t just another admin role—it’s your chance to be part of a high-performing team that’s redefining what’s possible in construction. Your work will directly contribute to the success of landmark projects, giving you a front-row seat to see your efforts transform communities.What's in it for you? Competitive salary & profit share scheme Flexible working Car Allowance / Company Car * Travel covered to any of our sites* Extensive corporate benefits including, Private Medical, Pension 8% employers contribution, Health and Wellness programme, 26 days holidays + bank holidays and much more… One of the best learning and development programmes which is customizable to support your career progression goals. (c.7000 training sessions delivered year to date across the WATES Group) Industry leading family leave benefits to included 26 weeks fully paid maternity, 12 weeks fully paid paternity. (*Subject to role…….) Ready to Build Your Future?If you’re ambitious, adaptable, and eager to leave your mark in the construction industry, Wates is the place for you. Let’s create tomorrow togetherTo find out more about LIFE AT WATES please click on the following link https://www.wates.co.uk/careers/ We are always looking for a variety of new talent to join our teams, to help us grow and innovate as a business. Although you may not have all of the skills listed, many of them may be transferable to other roles within the WATES Group. If you would like clarity on any of our vacancies or to discuss career opportunities in strict confidence, please contact our In-House Recruitment Team directly via recruitment@wates.co.uk and one of us will get in touch as soon as possible. As a responsible and inclusive employer, we are committed to equality and are proud to have been recognised for this through a range of accolades including gold accreditation with Investors in People, we are also a Disability Confident employer. Being a family owned, business means we understand and value long term relationships 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

Resident Liaison Officer

Location: Sheffield

Job Type: Customer Service

Application Deadline: 04-03-2025

Here at Wates, we have an opportunity for a Resident Liaison Officer to join our Wates Living Space Planned Maintenance Team in the South Yorkshire region. The key focus for this role will be to liaise with tenants and project staff regarding cyclical works to ensure a safe and secure environment and to support the operational team in delivering the cyclical and planned works programme for the term of the contract.    Key Accountabilities will include:   Support the lead supervisor in the construction of programme of works per annum as well as the operational team in the delivery of programmes on time, of good quality and value for money Ensure effective communication with all stakeholders and attend and organise regular progress meetings Give clear understanding of works to occur to the tenants and issue notices for access informing the site team of any reasonable adjustments required Maintain a complaints procedure and deal with disputes and damage claims. Attend community events organised Report all defects to Project Lead and advice on any trends (common defects) Continually check that our promises are being delivered

Joiner/Multitrade

Location: Skelmersdale

Job Type: Trades and Labour

Application Deadline: 03-03-2025

Here at Wates, we have an opportunity for a Multi Trader/Joiner to join our Living Space team in the West Lancashire area. As a Multi Trader/Joiner you will be working on our responsive maintenance contracts for one of our existing social housing providers. The primary focus of this role will be to undertake all tasks to achieve first time fix and deliver a high standard of workmanship in a timely and productive manner always affording excellent customer service to the client. Key Accountabilities will include: Undertaking repair/renewal works across several trades identifying the need for other trades to undertake the repair/renewal Advising Supervisor in a timely manner where other trades are required Working in partnership with other operatives to complete projects Completing daily work sheets detailing work undertaken and materials used after each job undertaken Working in a timely and productive manner to complete project Affording excellent customer service to client representatives At all times, work to Wates Health & Safety Professional Standards, including commitment to and understanding of the company’s safeguarding policy towards children and vulnerable adults We are looking for individuals who are qualified to a minimum of NVQ Level 2, have a driving license and have working experience within a joinery setting already.