Procurement Manager

Procurement Manager

Location: Hertfordshire (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Initial 3–4 Month Contract
Hours: 37 hours per week
Rate: £350.00 to £600.00 per day

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Procurement Manager to join a leading public sector organisation on an initial 3–4 month contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a procurement professional with strong public sector experience to play a key role in delivering strategic procurement projects and supporting the organisation's commercial objectives.

Working within a strategic procurement function, you will provide expert procurement advice to senior stakeholders, lead complex procurement activities, and help shape procurement strategy while ensuring compliance with current legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic procurement advice and challenge to senior managers across the organisation.
• Lead and support complex procurement exercises from planning through to contract award.
• Develop and review robust business cases, commercial assessments, and procurement strategies.
• Support senior stakeholders with negotiation planning, supplier negotiations, dispute resolution, and procurement challenges.
• Promote procurement best practice and identify opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of the organisation's Procurement Strategy.
• Act as a senior procurement adviser on major procurement projects.
• Manage and develop members of the procurement team, supporting performance and professional development.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, representing the procurement function where required.

Essential Requirements

• CIPS qualified (MCIPS), working towards CIPS, or an equivalent procurement qualification.
• Significant procurement and contract management experience within the public sector, ideally local government.
• Strong knowledge of procurement legislation and best practice, including the Procurement Act 2023.
• Evidence of completing the Transforming Public Procurement Training for the Procurement Act 2023 (essential).
• Proven experience developing procurement strategies and delivering complex procurement projects.
• Excellent commercial awareness with strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing teams or mentoring staff.
• Ability to analyse complex information and provide evidence-based commercial recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting to senior stakeholders.

What's on Offer

• Initial 3–4 month contract with the potential for extension.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile strategic procurement projects.
• Collaborative and supportive public sector environment.
• Competitive day rate, dependent on experience.

If you're an experienced Procurement Manager with a strong public sector background and are available for your next interim assignment, we'd love to hear from you.