Procurement Manager

Job Description

About the Role:

This role provides the opportunity to drive procurement success while ensuring sustainability and social value are central to decision-making. The Procurement Manager will secure competitive pricing, support the business owners in managing supplier relationships, and deliver improvements aligned with the company’s responsible practices. Reporting to the Head of Social Value and Planning and working closely with the Finance team, the role will oversee a Procurement Specialist and play a key part in shaping procurement processes, enhancing supplier performance, and achieving cost savings from a cost base of approximately £60m.

We are committed to integrating social and environmental value into everything we do, ensuring sustainable practices and are determined to deliver a positive impact on our neighbouring community. We take immense pride in our award-winning business, our industry-leading safety and compliance oversight, and our commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive workplace for both our people and business partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Take ownership of the procurement governance framework, including policies, processes, and standard documentation, ensuring alignment with both commercial and sustainability goals.
• Bring commercial rigor and challenge to all sourcing activities, ensuring procurement decisions drive best value while aligning with the company’s social value and sustainability priorities.
• Build effective relationships across operational teams, working closely to deliver procurement strategies that support both cost savings and social responsibility.
• Review and analyse the existing supplier base to develop a strategy for rationalising, refining, and retendering suppliers where appropriate, with consideration for both operational and sustainability goals.
• Categorise spend and provide regular reporting on procurement activities, identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost optimisation.
• Lead supplier negotiations, working with business stakeholders to secure favourable contracts and performance incentives.
• Implement standardised contracts and KPIs across the supplier base, ensuring they reflect operational goals and compliance requirements.
• Oversee the supplier onboarding process, ensuring smooth integration into procurement systems and alignment with business objectives.
• Drive ongoing cost reduction, cost avoidance, and cash flow improvements while ensuring that procurement practices contribute to sustainability and community engagement goals.
• Collaborate with the finance team to enhance procurement reporting systems, providing transparency and insights on procurement performance.
• Ensure adherence to compliance, safety standards, and environmental policies at all times, supporting the company’s broader Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives.
• Consistently demonstrate and encourage others to adhere to the company values of Proud, Passionate, Ambition, and Together.
• Contribute to the Company’s aspiration of becoming an Employer of Choice and Responsibility in the local area by actively participating in our volunteering opportunities where possible.
• Demonstrate engagement with and adherence to the Company’s policies, procedures, guidelines, wellbeing initiatives, and reporting channels to ensure all work is carried out safely and to the highest standards.
• Support the team with adhoc activities/tasks as reasonably requested.

About you: Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

• Led procurement activity for high-value indirect categories, including IT, Facilities, and Marketing, across complex operational industries, driving cost savings and process improvements or managed capital expenditure for large-scale projects or high-value assets in a relevant industry (e.g., aviation or infrastructure).
• Proven procurement delivery, with the ability to balance cost optimisation and operational efficiency with sustainability objectives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to negotiate effectively and manage supplier relationships to drive value.
• Ability to adjust quickly in response to changing business priorities and resource constraints, thriving in a less structured environment.
• Solid understanding of financial concepts such as Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), budgeting, and cost analysis.
• A track record of managing supplier relationships and delivering cost savings while ensuring compliance and high standards of governance.
• Capable of managing change effectively, maintaining focus and composure in challenging, fast-paced situations.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, influencing decision-making and ensuring procurement strategies align with overall business and sustainability goals.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess supplier performance and provide insights that contribute to continuous improvement.
• An understanding of social value, sustainability, and environmental practices, and the ability to integrate these principles into the procurement function without losing sight of commercial objectives.
• Evidence of Right to Work in the UK.

Desirable:

• Degree educated, ideally CIPS accredited or equivalent.
• Experience working with sustainability-focused procurement or integrating ESG considerations into procurement practices.
• Knowledge of procurement systems and tools.

What we can offer:

• Competitive salary.
• 25 days holiday per annum (pro-rata), plus statutory public holidays.
• Workplace pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions.
• Enhanced Company Maternity and Paternity Pay.
• Life assurance.
• Access to medical plan including a range of private treatments (after probation period).
• Company sick pay scheme.
• Electric vehicle scheme (after 9 months of employment).
• Sustainable travel scheme.
• Annual complimentary bike maintenance.
• Free onsite parking.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to an Employee Assistance programme and helpline.
• Discount on accommodation at affiliated hotel.
• Discount on food/beverage at affiliated pub.
• You’ll also get all kinds of other great perks, like social events and special employee offers.