IT Procurement Manager

TransPennine Express; Manchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

TransPennine Express is seeking a Technology Procurement Manager to lead strategic sourcing across technology categories, develop agile category plans, and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver value and compliant procurement outcomes.

You will drive end-to-end procurement projects, align with regulatory requirements, champion ESG and supplier performance, and build procurement capability across the organization in a fast-moving UK rail environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years managing Technology procurement categories.
• Experience delivering strategic procurement outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management across large organizations.
• Experience leading end-to-end procurement projects.
• Strong financial acumen to assess costs and risks.
• Knowledge of Procurement Act, PCR/UCR.
• Ability to implement governance, compliance and ESG.
• Experience with e-sourcing and e-tendering.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Act as trusted procurement advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Lead end-to-end procurement projects from business case through implementation.
• Monitor delivery against savings targets and governance requirements.
• Promote responsible procurement, sustainability, and supplier diversity.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategy

Contract negotiation

Procurement governance

Project management

Financial analysis

ESG awareness

e-sourcing

Education

MCIPS

CIPS qualification

Tools

e-sourcing platforms

e-tendering platforms

Job description

Technology Procurement Manager

What will you be doing?

Strategic Procurement & Category Leadership

• Develop and implement category strategies that align with business objectives, delivering sustainable value, operational efficiencies, and commercial benefits across the Technology portfolio.
• Act as the trusted procurement advisor to senior stakeholders, providing market insight, commercial expertise, and strategic recommendations to support business decision-making.
• Drive early engagement with stakeholders to shape requirements, challenge demand, identify opportunities, and maximise value throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Lead the development and execution of procurement strategies that balance cost, quality, service, innovation, risk, and regulatory compliance.

Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering

• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across Technology, Finance, Operations, Legal, and the wider business to ensure procurement activity supports strategic and operational objectives.
• Influence, challenge, and support stakeholders to embed procurement best practice, drive compliance, and achieve value-for-money outcomes.
• Facilitate collaborative planning sessions with business leaders to develop robust procurement pipelines and ensure timely delivery of key initiatives.
• Act as a commercial partner to stakeholders, proactively identifying opportunities to improve supplier performance, optimise spend, and reduce business risk.

Procurement Delivery & Commercial Excellence

• Lead complex end-to-end procurement projects from business case development and market engagement through to tendering, evaluation, contract negotiation, award, and implementation.
• Deliver procurement projects to agreed timescales, ensuring stakeholder requirements are met whilst maintaining compliance with governance and regulatory requirements.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure optimal contractual outcomes, maximise value, and protect organisational interests.
• Monitor procurement activity to ensure delivery against business plans, savings targets, and strategic objectives.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all procurement activity is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act, Utilities Contract Regulations (UCR), internal policies, governance frameworks, and industry best practice.
• Champion a culture of procurement governance, transparency, accountability, and ethical sourcing across the organisation.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate procurement, supplier, commercial, contractual, and operational risks, implementing appropriate controls and escalation processes where required.
• Support internal and external audits by maintaining robust procurement records and ensuring full compliance with governance requirements.
• Promote responsible procurement principles, including sustainability, social value, supplier diversity, and ESG commitments.

Financial Management & Value Delivery

• Partner with Finance to understand cost drivers, support budget planning, and identify opportunities for savings, efficiencies, and improved commercial performance.
• Develop robust benefits tracking and reporting mechanisms to measure procurement outcomes and demonstrate value delivered to the business.
• Work alongside/collaboration with other TOCS/DFTO on wider organisational objectives.
• Provide procurement performance reporting, analysis, and insights to support informed decision-making at all levels.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead procurement related discussions in functional reviews, governance forums, and project boards.
• Drive continuous improvement of procurement processes, systems, policies, and controls to improve efficiency, compliance, and stakeholder experience.
• Support the development of procurement capability across the organisation through guidance and knowledge sharing.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support the Procurement function and wider business objectives.

What skills, experience and personal attributes would you require?

Essential

• Proven experience (3+ years) managing Technology procurement categories within a complex commercial environment.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering strategic procurement outcomes, commercial value, efficiencies, and cost optimisation initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence, challenge, and build credibility at all organisational levels.
• Experience leading end-to-end procurement projects, including sourcing strategy development, tender management, supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, and implementation.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to assess costs, risks, opportunities, and business impacts.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and delivering against demanding timelines.
• Working knowledge of Procurement Act, PCR/UCR legislation, governance requirements, and public procurement principles.
• Ability to identify and manage procurement, commercial, and supplier risks effectively.
• Strong analytical, reporting, presentation, and communication skills.
• Experience using e-sourcing and e-tendering platforms.

Highly Desirable

• MCIPS qualified or actively working towards qualification.
• Experience operating within regulated industries, transport, rail, or public-sector environments.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Procurement Act and Utilities Contract Regulations (UCR).
• Experience developing procurement governance frameworks, compliance controls, and performance reporting.
• Demonstrable experience delivering transformation, supplier performance improvements, and strategic category management initiatives.
• Knowledge of ESG, sustainability, social value, and responsible procurement practices.

Success Measures

• Delivery of procurement projects on time and in line with business objectives.
• Achievement of agreed savings, efficiencies, and value generation targets.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and engagement across the business.
• Compliance with procurement legislation, governance frameworks, and audit requirements.
• Demonstrable contribution to organisational objectives, DfT and continuous improvement initiatives.