JNC202164 Assistant Director - Procurement

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 87,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the UK is seeking an Assistant Director, Procurement Specialist to lead a newly designed procurement function. This strategic role involves managing high-value contracts and implementing modern procurement principles. The ideal candidate will have MCIPS (or equivalent), expert knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023, and a proven track record in transforming procurement functions. This position offers a hybrid working model and an opportunity to significantly impact the city’s financial efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experienced procurement leader with a strong track record in large, complex environments.
• Expert knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and National Procurement Policy.
• Ability to inspire teams and foster stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Council’s procurement function across all directorates.
• Implement the Procurement Strategy and Future Target Operating Model.
• Manage high-value contracts and supplier relationships.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Procurement expertise

Political acumen

Team development

Governance and compliance

Education

MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification

Job description

Assistant Director, Procurement Specialist

Permanent

Grade B01 - £87,724 - £130,531

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

Hybrid working – Minimum 3 days per week On-Site

Introduction to Birmingham City Council

Birmingham is a city in transformation — ambitious, diverse, and ready to reshape its future.
Home to over 1.1 million residents, we’re proud to be Europe’s youngest major city and a place of extraordinary potential. As we move forward through a period of financial recovery and improvement, we’re redefining how we deliver services, create value, and build a fairer, more sustainable future for our citizens.

Our Commercial and Procurement Service sits at the heart of this change. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every pound we spend drives maximum value, strengthens our communities, and supports our city’s vision for inclusive growth, sustainability, and opportunity.

About the Role

As Assistant Director, Procurement Specialist, you will provide strategic leadership to a newly designed procurement function that underpins Birmingham City Council’s transformation.
Reporting to the Director, Commercial and Procurement, you will lead the implementation of our Future Target Operating Model (FTOM) for Procurement Services — embedding modern procurement principles, strengthening governance, and ensuring alignment with the Procurement Act 2023.

You’ll champion a culture of professionalism, innovation, and social value, ensuring that our procurement activity not only achieves financial efficiency but delivers wider outcomes for Birmingham’s residents and businesses.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing strategic leadership of the Council’s procurement function across all directorates.
• Embedding robust governance, compliance and assurance frameworks.
• Leading the delivery of the Council’s Procurement Strategy and Future Target Operating Model.
• Overseeing complex, high-value contracts and supplier relationships that shape key services across the city.
• Promoting social value, sustainability, and ethical procurement practices.
• Building and developing a skilled, motivated, and forward-thinking team.
• Partnering with senior leaders and elected members to ensure procurement supports Birmingham’s corporate priorities.

About You

You’ll be an experienced and politically astute procurement leader with a strong track record of delivering change in large, complex or regulated environments.
You’ll bring:

• MCIPS (or equivalent professional qualification).
• Expert knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement.
• Proven success in transforming procurement functions and delivering financial efficiencies.
• The ability to inspire high-performing teams and foster collaboration across stakeholders.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape how £1.75 billion of annual third‑party spend delivers measurable outcomes for one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic cities. You’ll join a forward‑looking leadership team committed to professionalisation, capability building, and genuine civic impact.

Please upload your up‑to‑date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquires please contact: [e-mail]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

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