Procurement Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is assisting in recruiting a Public Procurement Associate for a leading international UK firm. The role targets candidates with 1+ year PQE in public procurement and a solid grounding in procurement and utilities law, ready to contribute to advisory and disputes work from day one.

You will draft documents, support on strategy, and build relationships with clients while developing your technical and commercial skills within a collaborative, market-leading team.

Qualifications

• 1+ year PQE in public procurement or utilities procurement.
• Strong drafting and communication skills.
• Ability to work across advisory and disputes teams.

Responsibilities

• Support on complex procurement matters and strategy.
• Draft and review procurement documents and client communications.
• Assist in case strategy for procurement disputes.
• Attend client meetings and build commercial relationships.
• Contribute to training and know-how development.

Skills

Procurement law

Regulatory compliance

Contract drafting

Stakeholder communication

Education

Solicitor qualification (UK)

Job description

Public Procurement Associate | Leading International Firm | 1+ Year PQE

This is one of the UK's preeminent public procurement practices, sitting within a global firm that holds top-tier rankings across all its practice areas. The team advises on nationally and internationally significant projects across government, transport, utilities, defence, healthcare, and regeneration. For a junior lawyer, it is a rare chance to build your career at the heart of that work, learning from leaders in the field and gaining exposure to the full lifecycle of procurement law.

You will join the advisory side of the practice, but the team is unusual in combining advisory and disputes capability under one roof. That means from day one you will see both sides of procurement work, supporting senior colleagues on strategic projects while also contributing to the technical input that shapes major disputes.

What you'll do

Working closely with partners and senior associates, you will:

• Support on complex procurement matters, assisting with advice on strategy, regulatory compliance, direct awards, and contract modifications
• Contribute to procurement workstreams on large, multi-disciplinary projects, collaborating with colleagues in construction, real estate, transport, utilities, defence, IT, and outsourcing
• Draft and review procurement documents, guidance notes, and client communications, building your technical skills with each matter
• Assist in the preparation of case strategy for procurement disputes, working alongside the specialist disputes team
• Attend client meetings, build relationships, and develop a commercial understanding of how procurement advice drives real-world outcomes
• Participate in training, know-how development, and thought leadership, with encouragement to find your own voice early

There is a clear path here. The firm invests in its junior lawyers and expects this role to lead naturally towards Senior Associate and beyond. You will have the support to build your profile, the training to deepen your expertise, and the platform to grow.

About you

You are a qualified solicitor with at least one year of experience in procurement law, gained at a reputable regional, national, or international firm. You have a solid grounding in public procurement and/or utilities procurement law, and you are eager to develop your technical and commercial skills. You draft well, communicate clearly, and enjoy working as part of a close-knit, collaborative team. You are ambitious, curious, and ready to contribute to the long-term success of a market-leading practice.

What you'll get

• An associate role in a Band 1, UK-wide procurement practice backed by a global platform
• Exposure to complex, high-value work that is often in the public eye
• Structured career development, mentoring from market leaders, and a clear pathway to Senior Associate
• A collaborative, inclusive culture with hybrid working and a strong commitment to work-life balance
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits