Head of Procurement (Public Sector) | £70,000 to £80,000 | Amazing benefits package | Reading office - 1 day a week in the office | A leading procurement consultancy for the Higher Education sector This is a brand new and hugely exciting role, reporting directly into the MD of the the firm to oversee and manage a procurement function across multiple levels. This person will act as the face of the company when attending events, roundtables and industry related conferences. The Head of Procurement will play a pivotal role in leading and managing the development, implementation, and optimisation of frameworks for the organisation. This leadership position will be responsible for line management of a team currently comprising five Category Managers and one Assistant Category Manager. PLEASE NOTE: You must have extensive Public Sector procurement experience to be suitable for this role, using relevant frameworks and experience in OJEU/PCR 2015 and trained ready for the Procurement Act 23 Roles and responsibilities: Design and oversee the strategy for developing, renewing, and managing frameworks in line with organisational goals and member requirements. Identify opportunities for new frameworks that align with industry trends, market demands, and member needs. Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and service providers, negotiating contracts that deliver competitive pricing, quality, and service levels. Managed and build relationships with other sector-relevant bodies. Collaborate closely with consortium members to understand their purchasing needs and ensure frameworks deliver maximum value. Manage and develop a team of Category Managers and the Assistant Category Manager, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence including providing mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members. Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and service providers, negotiating contracts that deliver competitive pricing, quality, and service levels. Experience and requirements: Proven experience in procurement, contract management, or framework development, ideally within a public sector, purchasing consortium, or cooperative environment. Strong knowledge of public procurement regulations (e.g., UK Public Contracts Regulations, EU procurement law). Excellent leadership, negotiation, and relationship management skills. Ability to assimilate and analyse complex data and to work productively as part of a team Demonstrated success in managing and optimising large-scale procurement frameworks or tender. Financial literacy and commercial understanding Excellent facilitation and presentation skills Degree Educated is preferable MCIPS qualified or at least studying CIPS