Strategic Procurement Manager

East Sussex County Council; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

East Sussex County Council is seeking a Strategic Procurement Manager to lead complex, high-value procurement activity within a forward-thinking, collaborative organisation. You will head the Strategic Procurement Team, develop category strategies, manage senior stakeholder relationships and lead procurement professionals to deliver value and social outcomes.

Your base will be County Hall in Lewes with a hybrid working pattern; in-office presence is expected at least one day a week, and

Qualifications

• Lead strategic procurements
• Develop innovative category strategies
• Demonstrate commercial awareness
• Understand procurement legislation and governance
• Deliver measurable outcomes and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic procurement projects and commercial activity.
• Influence decision-making at a senior level and shape procurement direction.
• Manage a team of procurement professionals and deliver value for money.
• Develop category strategies and stakeholder relationships.

Job description

Job Description

Are you an experienced procurement professional, looking for an opportunity to lead complex, high-value procurement activity within a forward-thinking, supportive and collaborative organisation? If so, we would love to hear from you.

We are recruiting a Strategic Procurement Manager to join our Strategic Procurement Team. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for delivering complex procurement and commercial projects, developing category strategies, managing key stakeholder relationships and leading a team of procurement professionals.

As a Strategic Procurement Manager, you will lead some of the Council's most strategically important procurement projects, influence decision-making at a senior level and help shape the future direction of procurement across the organisation.

Why join us?

Procurement at East Sussex County Council is at the heart of delivering high-quality public services. The Strategic Procurement Team works across the Council, delivering procurement solutions that generate value for money, social value and sustainable outcomes for our communities.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have experience leading strategic procurements
• Develop innovative category strategies
• Demonstrate commercial awareness
• Understand procurement legislation and governance
• Deliver measurable outcomes and continuous improvement

Please download the job description and person specification for more information.

Your Office base will be at County Hall in Lewes. We support a hybrid working approach. Typically, you would be expected to be in the office a minimum of one day a week, with flexibility required to meet business needs.

Interviews will take place in person at County Hall, Lewes, week commencing 5 October 2026.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion contact Stephanie McCann, Head of Procurement, at [e-mail].

Additional Information

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!

About Us

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.