Sourcing Lead

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking a Sourcing Lead to provide strategic leadership across sourcing and procurement, delivering value for money and compliant governance. You will lead a specialist team, shaping procurement strategies and supplier relationships within a large local authority environment.

The role offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements, with a focus on improving procurement outcomes, supplier performance, and ethical procurement aligned to council priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading procurement and sourcing strategies delivering measurable value.
• Experience with regulated procurement environments and governance requirements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management across senior level.
• Analytical use of performance data to improve outcomes.
• Experience coaching procurement professionals to high performance.
• Commitment to towards Level 6 CIPS Diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across sourcing and procurement.
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with organisational priorities.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Lead supplier performance management with data to drive benefits.
• Develop catalogue-based sourcing and modern procurement approaches.
• Champion procurement systems and digital solutions.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with legislation and governance.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Governance & compliance

Market intelligence

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Team leadership

CIPS Level 6 Diploma

Education

Level 6 CIPS Diploma

Tools

Procurement systems

Job description

Sourcing Lead

Permanent

Grade 6 - £54,495- £64,811

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

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Lead strategic sourcing that delivers value for Birmingham

Are you an experienced procurement leader with a passion for strategic sourcing, commercial innovation and delivering value for money? Birmingham City Council is looking for a Sourcing Lead to join our newly established Commercial and Procurement Services.

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a specialist sourcing team, developing innovative procurement strategies that improve efficiency, strengthen supplier relationships and maximise public value. You'll play a key role in shaping how the Council procures goods and services, ensuring procurement is ethical, commercially robust and aligned with the Council's strategic priorities.

About the Role

As a Sourcing Lead, you'll provide strategic leadership across sourcing and procurement by:

• Leading and developing a high-performing Sourcing Team, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Developing sourcing strategies that respond to organisational priorities, market opportunities and emerging commercial trends to deliver value for money.
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers, providing expert commercial advice throughout the procurement lifecycle.
• Leading supplier performance management, using commercial and performance data to improve quality, manage risk and deliver measurable benefits.
• Driving the development of catalogue-based sourcing solutions and modern procurement approaches that improve efficiency and accessibility.
• Championing the effective use of procurement systems, technology and digital solutions to enhance commercial performance and service delivery.
• Ensuring all procurement activity is delivered in accordance with procurement legislation, governance requirements and robust project management principles.

About You

We're looking for an experienced procurement leader who combines commercial expertise with excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills. You'll bring:

• Significant experience developing procurement and sourcing strategies within a regulated procurement environment that deliver measurable commercial value.
• Strong knowledge of procurement legislation, governance and commercial best practice, with experience managing complex supply chains and contracts.
• Experience using market intelligence, supplier performance data and commercial insight to inform sourcing decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across senior stakeholders and supplier organisations.
• Strong analytical skills, using performance data to identify opportunities, manage risks and improve procurement outcomes.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing procurement professionals to build capability and deliver high performance.
• A Level 6 CIPS Diploma (or equivalent professional expertise), or a commitment to work towards the qualification.

Why Join Us?

At Birmingham City Council, you'll play a leading role in transforming procurement across one of Europe's largest local authorities. In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to shape strategic sourcing and commercial delivery across a diverse and complex organisation.
• A senior leadership role within an ambitious Commercial and Procurement Service committed to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to further develop your leadership, commercial and strategic procurement expertise through ongoing professional development.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow.
• A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to a wide range of employee wellbeing initiatives and staff benefits.
• A rewarding career where your leadership will help deliver better value, stronger supplier partnerships and improved public services for the people of Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, andwe arecommitted 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]

Job Description and PersonSpecification - RM-00137169-Sourcing Lead-Job Description.pdf