Job Description
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