Strategic Procurement Manager

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

One day in office (Aylesbury)

Flexible and hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Supportive team culture

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking an experienced Strategic Procurement Manager to lead a portfolio of complex procurements from inception through to contract award. You will collaborate with commissioners, managers and suppliers to devise strategies, engage markets and deliver commercially robust outcomes aligned with council priorities.

This hands-on role requires juggling multiple projects with minimal supervision while ensuring governance and compliance are maintained across the procurement

Qualifications

• Significant procurement experience in a regulated environment.
• Experience leading complex procurement projects from inception to contract award.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex procurement exercises from start to finish.
• Develop procurement strategies and route-to-market recommendations.
• Support development of business cases and specifications.
• Run framework call-offs, competitive procurements and market engagement.
• Manage tender evaluations, moderation and contract award processes.
• Provide commercial advice and challenge to stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Procurement Act 2023 and governance requirements.
• Identify opportunities to deliver social value and wider community benefits.
• Support contract management and supplier relationship management.

Skills

Procurement management

Stakeholder management

Public sector procurement

Contract management

Sourcing strategies

In-Tend

MCIPS/CIPS5

Regulatory compliance

Education

MCIPS / CIPS Level 5

Tools

In-Tend

Job description

At Buckinghamshire Council, procurement is about far more than running tenders.

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who can step straight into a fast-paced environment and help us deliver some of the Council's most important and highest-profile procurements. This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive, ambitious and friendly Strategic Procurement Team that is helping to shape the future of public services across Buckinghamshire.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

About the role

As a Strategic Procurement Manager, you will lead and deliver a portfolio of complex procurement projects from inception through to contract award.

You will work closely with commissioners, service managers, suppliers and stakeholders to develop procurement strategies, undertake market engagement, manage tender processes and deliver commercially robust outcomes that support Council priorities.

This is very much a hands-on role. We are looking for someone who can quickly pick up and manage multiple procurement projects simultaneously, navigating governance requirements and driving activity forward with minimal supervision.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing complex procurement exercises from start to finish.
• Developing procurement strategies and route-to-market recommendations.
• Supporting the development of business cases and specifications.
• Running framework call-offs, competitive procurements and market engagement activities.
• Managing tender evaluations, moderation and contract award processes.
• Providing commercial advice and challenge to stakeholders.
• Ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and Council governance requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to deliver social value and wider community benefits.
• Supporting contract management and supplier relationship management activity.
• Contributing to the delivery of the Strategic Procurement Framework.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need a desk, screen a keyboard to get your job done. You’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

We're looking for someone who can hit the ground running and make an immediate impact.

You will have:

• Significant procurement experience within a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation and best practice.
• Experience managing multiple procurement projects at the same time.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to challenge constructively and influence decision-making.
• Experience of leading complex tender exercises and framework competitions.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Experience using e-sourcing systems such as In-Tend or similar platforms.
• MCIPS, CIPS Level 5, or equivalent procurement experience.

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team that is undergoing significant transformation and improvement. You'll be working alongside experienced procurement professionals in a genuinely supportive environment where development, collaboration and innovation are encouraged.

We offer:

• One day per week in the office (Aylesbury)
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Exposure to high-profile and strategic procurement projects
• The opportunity to help shape the future of procurement within Buckinghamshire Council
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement

Most importantly, you'll join a team that genuinely enjoys working together, supports each other through challenges and is passionate about delivering better outcomes for Buckinghamshire residents.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

For more information about this role, please contact Kayley Lakin at [e-mail] for an informal discussion.

Interview Date:tbc

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well‑being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.