Strategic Procurement Manager

South Buckinghamshire; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking a Strategic Procurement Manager to lead end-to-end procurements in Communities, Planning, Growth and Sustainability, ensuring PA23/PCR2015 compliance and value for money.

You will guide above-threshold contracts, collaborate with commissioners, and advance social value while maintaining best-in-class procurement processes across our Commissioning and Procurement Hub.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and leading public procurements from start to award under PA23 or PCR2015.
• Commercially minded with strong relationships with service area customers.
• Senior level procurement experience within Communities, Planning, Growth and Sustainability or Resources.
• Knowledge of In-Tend or similar systems for procurement.
• Expert knowledge of e-procurement policies, processes and regulations.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong project management capabilities and delivery focus.
• MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent professional qualification.

Responsibilities

• Explore optimal procurement routes based on market developments and service requirements.
• Liaise with commissioners to develop business case and service specification documents.
• Manage above-threshold procurements, including contract negotiations and compliance.
• Drive social value opportunities and sustainable outcomes with commissioners.
• Provide clear, balanced, and accurate advice to service departments and commissioners.
• Lead high-value and high-risk contract management programmes.
• Collaborate with other Local Authorities to share plans and deliver innovation.

Skills

Public procurement strategy

PA23 PCR knowledge

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Negotiation skills

Project management

MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent

Education

MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent

Tools

In-Tend

E-procurement systems

Job description

Location: Aylesbury

Overview

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for procurement? This is an excellent new opportunity to join our Buckinghamshire Strategic Procurement Team as a Strategic Procurement Manager running end to end procurement projects in our Communities area predominantly working on Neighbourhoods and Waste services. Reporting to the Strategic Business Partner for Services and Supplies across Communities and PSG (Planning, Growth and Sustainability) you'll ensure that our procurement processes deliver the Council's objectives in a compliant and professional manner, achieving sustainable value for money.

Our Commissioning and Procurement Hub enables our Strategic Procurement Team to work closely with commissioning teams, ensuring collaboration with our clients in developing and executing a procurement strategy that achieves strategically defined success criteria. We bring together experiences and lessons learned to ensure the most effective approach. We aim to secure value for money in all that they do, ensuring commercial thinking and innovative solutions to engage contracted out solutions. If you know

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within our organisation. You'll be part of a dynamic and close knit team, working on high-profile projects that drive genuine change as part of our new Commissioning and Procurement Hub.

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

The post holder will support the Council in its Services and Supplies Business Partner Area, leading and advising on Above Threshold procurements for a variety of service areas within Communities, Planning, Growth and Sustainability, and Resources, ensuring compliance with PCR2015/PA23 legislation and achieving sustainable value for money.

Some of the key responsibilities include:

• Explore optimal procurement routes based on market developments and service requirements.
• Liaise with commissioners to develop business case and service specification documents.
• Manage the procurement process for above threshold procurements, including contract negotiations, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
• Drive social value opportunities and sustainable outcomes in partnership with commissioners.
• Provide clear, balanced, and accurate advice to service departments and commissioners.
• Lead and support high-value and high-risk contract management programmes.
• Collaborate with other Local Authorities and public sector bodies to share plans and deliver additional value and innovation.

Any-Desk:

As an 'any-desk' worker, 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

The successful candidate must have strong experience deigning and leading on public procurements from start to award under PA23 legislation or PCR 2015.

You will be a commercially minded thinker with strong people skills in building relations within the team and your service area customers. You will be confident procuring in the public sector with a passion for procurement with substantial experience in a senior role within the service area or related professional field with experience in the following areas:

• Provide high-quality procurement advice according to PA23 or PCR2015 and support Buckinghamshire infrastructure clients on their flagship projects.
• Lead above threshold PA23 compliant projects and programmes as the strategic procurement subject matter expert based on evidenced experience of delivery across the entire procurement and supply lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Buckinghamshire colleagues to deliver quality outcomes for our clients, providing high value multi-discipline solutions.
• Challenge yourself in a market leading business, with opportunities to personally develop working alongside your colleagues. Knowledge of In-Tend (ideally) or similar systems.
• Expert knowledge of relevant e-procurement systems, policies, processes, regulations, and legislation.
• Proven ability to build relationships, engage effectively, and influence stakeholders.
• Excellent persuasion and negotiating skills.
• Strong project management skills and experience.
• Relevant professional qualification (MCIPS Level 5 or equivalent experience).

Please refer to the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

Closing date: 31st August 2026.

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

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

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.

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, particularly as the skills required to create and deliver strategic plans and business cases require the ability to convey, deliver and embed CIPS procurement and supply principles. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

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

Our values

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

By joining 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.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/