Strategic Sourcing Manager

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Pension scheme

Annual leave 28 days

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a senior commercial leader to drive complex, regulated procurements and build high‑performing teams that deliver excellent results. You will coach talent, set the benchmark for commercial excellence and partner with stakeholders to achieve strategic outcomes.

Based in Milton Keynes, the role guides a team delivering strategic sourcing, supplier management and category strategies across a substantial spend, ensuring value for money and adherence to regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree standard or equivalent and MCIPS qualified.
• Proven sourcing experience with savings delivery within large programmes.
• Strong negotiation, dispute resolution and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex sourcing activities within an OJEU-regulated environment, guiding £300m-£500m annual spend.
• Develop and deliver Integrated Category Strategies with Stakeholders at Head of level.
• Coach, support and develop Sourcing Specialists and Managers to high performance.
• Provide commercial oversight, best practice, and driving continuous improvement across the function.
• Influence decision-making and shape outcomes with business leaders and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance, commercial rigour and customer focus in all sourcing activities.

Skills

Leadership

Procurement

Sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Education

Degree or equivalent

MCIPS qualification

Job description

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we are dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you are not just part of a team - you are part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we will do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we would love to hear from you!

Some of our great benefits:

• We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
• Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
• Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
• Interest‑free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact

About the role

This is a leadership opportunity for someone who is passionate about people, capability and excellence. Someone who gains genuine satisfaction from helping others succeed, building high‑performing teams and creating an environment where individuals are empowered to perform at their very best.

As the leader of a team managing complex, high‑value and high‑profile regulated procurements, you will be responsible for creating the conditions for success. You will provide direction, remove barriers, develop capability and build a culture where accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement are embedded in everything the team does. Your success will be measured not only by the quality of procurement outcomes delivered, but also by the strength, engagement and development of the people within your team.

We are seeking an experienced and inspiring people leader who can coach, support and challenge others to achieve their full potential. Through your leadership, you will help individuals navigate complexity, build confidence and continually strengthen their commercial and procurement expertise. You will create an environment where people feel trusted to take ownership, encouraged to grow and motivated to consistently deliver outstanding results.

With deep expertise in regulated procurement, you will provide the strategic oversight, guidance and assurance that enables the team to succeed. Rather than personally leading every procurement, you will set the benchmark for quality, professionalism and commercial excellence across the function. You will champion best practice, drive continuous improvement and ensure compliance, commercial rigour and customer focus are at the heart of every sourcing activity delivered by the team.

As a senior commercial leader, you will build trusted relationships across the organisation and position the sourcing team as a valued strategic partner. Working closely with business leaders and stakeholders, you will influence decision‑making, provide commercial insight and help shape successful outcomes. Through your leadership and credibility, you will enhance the reputation of the function, ensuring it is recognised for its expertise, professionalism and ability to deliver results that matter.

This role will suit an individual with substantial experience of leading teams within a regulated procurement environment, together with a proven track record of developing people, improving performance and creating a culture of excellence. We are looking for someone who combines outstanding people leadership with deep commercial credibility; someone who can inspire others, raise standards and build a team that is recognised as a benchmark for procurement excellence.

If you are passionate about developing people, creating high‑performing teams and shaping the future of a professional sourcing function, we would love to hear from you.

Duration:Permanent

Location:This role is based in The Quadrant, Milton Keynes.

This role is a full‑time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered. For the Quadrant location, you must live within 90 minutes.

Band & Salary:Band 2.B £71,163 - £86,801 depending on skills and experience.

Key responsibilities

• Lead complex sourcing activities for medium to high‑value goods and services, using commercial sourcing models where appropriate. You'll manage procurement activity within an OJEU‑regulated environment, ensuring all legislative, regulatory and risk requirements are met, while influencing annual spend of £300m-£500m.
• Work closely with Strategic Category Managers and key stakeholders at Head of level to deliver Integrated Category Strategies, developing and executing sourcing pipelines that support business objectives.
• Act as the lead negotiator on high‑value sourcing initiatives, securing significant savings and benefits for the business. You'll collaborate with stakeholders and Finance to ensure benefits are realised and reflected in budgets where applicable.
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders, creating a collaborative approach that supports the smooth transition from sourcing activity into ongoing Strategic Supplier Management.
• Challenge and shape demand requirements, helping customers and stakeholders maximise value through effective aggregation and sourcing solutions while remaining aligned to their priorities and objectives.
• Provide expert sourcing advice and guidance, drawing on your specialist knowledge to introduce innovative approaches, fresh ideas and best practice that create a sourcing‑led competitive advantage.
• Monitor supplier and competitor markets, carrying out regular market assessments to identify opportunities and support the delivery of the best possible Total Cost of Ownership.
• Lead, support and develop a team of Sourcing Specialists and/or Sourcing Managers, providing coaching, guidance and development opportunities while fostering a collaborative, high‑performing team culture that maximises value for the organisation.

About the team

You'll be joining a supportive and collaborative Commercial & Procurement team that plays a key role in keeping Britain's railways running efficiently and safely. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across the business to deliver value for money, ensure compliance, and support strategic objectives. It's a fast‑paced and dynamic environment where your ideas are valued, and professional development is encouraged. Hear what some of our brilliant team members think about Network Rail in this video

Your experience and skills

Educated to a degree standard or equivalent and MCIPS qualified (or equivalent professional body with chartered status)

Significant Sourcing experience with a demonstrable track record of savings delivery within an infrastructure or engineering environment

Solution driven, innovator, cost and value led

Proven level of negotiation and dispute resolution skill set

Experience with cross‑functional collaborative working methods

Politically aware, with the ability to use direct and indirect influencing strategies

Demonstrable level of problem‑solving experience and in large, complex organisations

Detailed knowledge of the UK Rail Industry, including procurement processes in a reclassified environment

Please see attached job description for full details.

Additional Information

Closing date:Tuesday 20th October 2026. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted.

Next Steps

Interviews will be held W/C 02/11/2026, depending on business requirements.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

Business, Commercial and Project Management