Procurement Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is supporting a leading international firm in recruiting a Public Procurement Senior Associate with 5+ years PQE. The role focuses on directing complex procurement matters on nationally and internationally significant projects.

The ideal candidate will shape procurement strategy, design processes, and oversee junior lawyers while collaborating across government, transport, and healthcare sectors. This is a high-profile, partnership-track opportunity within a global practice.

Qualifications

• Public Procurement Senior Associate with 5+ years PQE at a leading firm.
• Experience advising on government, transport, utilities, defence and healthcare projects.
• Ability to supervise juniors and develop client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex procurement matters and cross-practice projects.
• Design procurement processes and advise on contract modifications.
• Supervise junior lawyers and manage large workstreams.
• Provide input on claims and risks in procurement disputes.

Skills

Procurement

Contract negotiation

Job description

Public Procurement Senior Associate | 5+ Years PQE | Leading International Firm

One of the UK's preeminent public procurement practices, sitting within a global firm with top tier rankings across all practice areas, is looking for a senior lawyer to lead complex procurement matters on nationally and internationally significant projects.

The Firm

A global firm with a procurement practice that is unusual in combining advisory and disputes capability under one roof, advising across government, transport, utilities, defence, healthcare and regeneration. The wider platform is a genuine differentiator. Procurement here does not operate in a vacuum, with close collaboration across construction, real estate, transport, utilities, defence, IT and outsourcing on projects that are genuinely multi-disciplinary. The clients are a mix of contracting authorities and bidders, giving you a dual perspective that very few practices anywhere in the market can offer.

The Role

This is not a role for routine procurement work. You will be shaping procurement strategy, designing processes, advising on contract modifications and direct awards and sitting at the table when the most significant public sector deals are being structured.

You will lead on complex procurement matters, manage large workstreams on cross-practice projects and advise on the design, delivery and governance of procurement processes with a commercial, solutions-focused approach.

Working side by side with specialist procurement litigators you will provide technical input on claims and defences, assess litigation risk and help clients navigate the moments when a procurement process becomes contentious, giving you sight of the full picture rather than just one half of it.

You will also supervise and develop junior lawyers, build and strengthen client relationships and contribute to thought leadership and profile raising activity within a practice that has a clear and supported pathway to partnership for the right candidate.

The Ideal Candidate

• Public Procurement Senior Associate with 5+ years PQE gained at a leading regional, national or international firm