Senior Procurement Manager

Network Rail; West of England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff travel discount

Rail season tickets subsidy

GWR ticket alliance

Pension schemes

Flexible 35hrs week

Armed Forces leave

PROUD recognition scheme

Job summary

Network Rail in Bristol is recruiting to lead the development and delivery of procurement and contracting strategies that support major programmes and regional objectives. You will manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, including market engagement, tender management and contract negotiation to secure the best commercial outcomes.

The role requires a strong commercial mindset, knowledge of EU procurement directives, and the ability to influence stakeholders while ensuring governance, safety

Qualifications

• Sound commercial aptitude and strong knowledge of supplier markets.
• Experience in procurement and contracts with negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate strategies and influence stakeholders.
• Knowledge of EU Procurement Directives and compliance requirements.
• Awareness of contract, safety and environmental requirements.
• Commitment to safe behaviour as a core work value.

Responsibilities

• Develop, and continually enhance, procurement strategies aligned to major programmes.
• Manage pre-qualification, tender management, negotiation and contracts.
• Provide procurement advice across programmes and portfolios.
• Influence main contractors and sub-contracting activity where appropriate.
• Ensure governance, legal compliance and supplier performance management.
• Identify cost reductions and drive efficiency targets for portfolios.
• Measure supplier performance and implement continuous improvement.

Skills

Commercial aptitude

Procurement and contracts background

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

EU Procurement Directives

Safety awareness

Education

Degree level

Job description

At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network. Now is a fantastic time and join our team in Wales and Western region as we finalise the reforms to our maintenance organisation which will deliver:

• A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees - quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.
• Individual rostering - enabling us to send the right number or people to fix a fault.
• Multi-skilling - investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.
• Accelerated and improved technology deployment - we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. When your part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions. Watch our video to find out more!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor's 2021 Best Places to Work.

You will lead the development and delivery of procurement and contracting strategies that support key business programmes and regional objectives. You'll manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, including market engagement, supplier selection, tender management, and the negotiation of complex, high-value contracts to secure the best commercial outcomes. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners, you'll ensure procurement activities align with legislation, business plans, governance requirements, and industry regulations while driving consistency in commercial approaches across programmes.

You'll play a pivotal role in identifying cost-saving opportunities, managing commercial and contractual risks, and building strong supplier relationships that deliver long-term value. Through effective supplier performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives, you'll help enhance procurement capability, improve programme efficiency, and support the delivery of best-in-class procurement and supply chain practices.

Location is Bristol, a lthough Swindon or Cardiff with some travel could be discussed.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to

• Develop, and continually enhance, project & programme specific procurement strategies that compliment the National Programme Strategy and maintain security of supply and value for money and HSQE performance for a range of contracts.
• Perform the full range of procurement and contracting activities including pre-qualification, tender management, negotiation and preparation of contracts.
• Provide procurement advice on a programme wide basis relating to specific portfolio issues.
• Support pre-contract procurement of main contractors and where appropriate actively influence the procurement of sub-contracting activity by the main contractors.
• Exercise compliance with Network Rail policies, procedures and governance and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage a range of preferred suppliers developing positive supplier relationships aligned to business objectives.
• Identify cost reduction and efficiency opportunities and contribute to the achievement of efficiency targets for a specific portfolio.
• Manage the process for the measuring of supplier performance so that effective feedback takes place to facilitate continuous improvement.
• Exercise delegated authority to procure in accordance with established policies and governance.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance ¿ Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from
• Effectively manage work-life balance w ith a 35hrsper week c ontract, and enhanced family friendly support .
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

More about the role and your application

Closing date: 21st September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Your experience and skills

You will ideally have

• Sound commercial aptitude and sound knowledge of relevant Supplier Market.
• Varied and successful procurement and contracts background with experience of negotiation and developing and implementing procurement and contract strategies.
• Ability to communicate strategies and concepts simply and effectively and to persuade and influence stakeholders.
• Knowledge of EU Procurement Directives.
• Awareness of contract requirements safety and contract requirements environment.
• Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail.You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.

What could set you apart

• Knowledge of e-procurement.
• Membership of relevant professional institute.
• Knowledge of the rail industry.
• Educated to degree level.

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location:

Bristol Temple Point, Bristol

Geographical Area:

South West England

Closing Date:

21-SEP-2026

Job Category:

Business, Commercial and Project Management

Function:

Organisation:

DM Contracts and Procurement - Wales (338777) G5