Strategic Public Sector Procurement Lead

National Express Bus; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

National Express Bus is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead end-to-end procurement strategies for fleet and corporate spend. You will run open tenders, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships with governance and ESG at the core.

You will partner with Engineering Directors and operations to maximise value, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with UK legislation. Hybrid working is offered with exposure to cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to design, run, and deliver end-to-end Open Tenders in public sector contexts (<Public Sector Frameworks> and Procurement Act 2023).
• Experience delivering savings and value across direct (Engineering/Fleet) and indirect (Corporate/IT/FM) categories.
• Strong contract negotiations and supplier performance management.
• Ability to develop category strategies and manage bid conditioning, clarifications, and debriefs.
• Skilled in ESG, governance, and risk management within procurement activities.
• Experience leading a team and influencing senior stakeholders to gain buy-in.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and procurement software/systems.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver category strategies across defined direct and indirect spend areas to deliver savings and value creation.
• Lead end-to-end procurement activity, competitive tenders, contract negotiations, market engagement, and supplier mobilisation.
• Apply ESG and governance requirements within procurement activities and challenge stakeholders where proposals fall short.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and ensure risks and compliance obligations are met.
• Lead on contract and supplier relationship management, track performance and conduct KPI reviews.
• Standardise contract templates to protect the business legally and commercially.
• Monitor supplier developments and benchmark pricing to mitigate risks and identify innovations.
• Maintain audit, governance, and assurance processes to comply with policies and UK legislation.

Skills

End-to-end procurement

Public sector frameworks

Open tenders

Contract negotiations

Category strategy

ESG & governance

Stakeholder management

SRM

MS Office

Procurement systems

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

National Express Bus is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead end-to-end procurement strategies for fleet and corporate spend. You will run open tenders, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships with governance and ESG at the core.

You will partner with Engineering Directors and operations to maximise value, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with UK legislation. Hybrid working is offered with exposure to cross-functional teams.