VodafoneThree Procurement Lead: Network Engineering

VodafoneThree; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

VodafoneThree is seeking a Senior Procurement Manager: Network Engineering to lead procurement strategy and spend across the Networks function. You will partner with senior stakeholders, influence ELT decisions, and guide procurement activities through governance, with emphasis on value, risk, and supplier management.

Role requires deep industry knowledge, exceptional negotiation skills, and capability to drive complex contracts while aligning with Finance and Legal.

Qualifications

• Experience of senior stakeholder level business partnering.
• Exceptional engagement and relationship building abilities (internally and externally).
• Strategically minded and creative, able to translate vision into plans with negotiation ability.
• Significant experience running end-to-end procurement programmes within blue-chip organisations.
• Deep experience and thought leadership on procurement basics - contract law, negotiation, market dynamics, strategic sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Anticipate procurement challenges to deliver the best commercial outcomes.
• Maintain current category plans aligned to business objectives.
• Use data and insights to form a view on investments and supplier options.
• Support high-value procurement initiatives with best-in-class sourcing solutions.
• Lead or participate in high-value commercial negotiations with stakeholders and legal teams.
• Ensure alignment with governance and supplier management teams for smooth handover.

Skills

Stakeholder partnering

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Procurement programmes

Procurement basics

Job description

Company Description

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Location

Newbury (other locations considered) + *Hybrid

Working hours

Full time 37.5 hours per week – Mon to Fri

Hybrid

• Hybrid

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Who We Are

We’re here to build a network the UK can count on – one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online – we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future’s being built – today. We’re creating more than the UK’s best network. We’re helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress. We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there’s space for you here. We’re building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves. You’ll join a team that genuinely cares – about each other, about our customers, and about the future we’re building. From day one, you’ll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.

Why VodafoneThree

Join us and you’ll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last.

We’re not just expanding connectivity; we’re reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country.

You’ll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you’ll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone.

We move at pace, because what we’re building matters – and we’re learning as we go. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we’re just getting started.

Job Description

Reporting to Senior Procurement Manager: Network Engineering, this role is a highly visible and influential role which will deliver and maintain the Procurement and contract strategy for the Networks requirements across the business.

This role will be responsible for the Networks Procurement spend and strategy for VodafoneThree and requires a commercial and contracts subject matter expert that works closely with their line manager, the Procurement Director, VPC and the Financial Governance Director to provide expert advice and guidance to ELT members and their SLT. They will be required to understand business strategy, technology and market developments and providing creative challenge and thought leadership to influence and support business decision making. The Procurement function is a centre of excellence to ensure the company achieves its near and long-term business outcomes by planning, selecting, contracting and onboarding the very best suppliers, products and services, optimising the balance of risk, cost, quality and delivery. The Networks Procurement function will fully align with the Networks team within VodafoneThree to provide end to end support requirements across VodafoneThree.

Key Responsibilities

• Works up stream to anticipate procurement challenges, ensuring the business is equipped with the right sourcing strategies to deliver the best possible commercial outcomes, ensuring clarity around areas such as risks, routes to market, resource commitments, supply market dynamics, competitive strategies and delivery plans.
• Maintains a suite of clear and current category plans, wholly aligned to business objectives, which identify a pipeline of procurement opportunities.
• Uses internal and external data, relationships and insight to formulate a clear point of view on business investment decisions (e.g. supply market reviews, business case assessments etc), stimulate creative conversations and encourage innovative thinking within the business
• Supports the delivery of a breadth of procurement initiatives, on occasion highly complex and high value, using best in class sourcing solutions such as e-Procurement, e-auctioning, strategic sourcing etc.
• Leads or participates in high-value, complex commercial and contractual negotiations, working with stakeholders and legal to close negotiations with contracts which fully protect VodafoneThree’s commercial and operational risks and interests
• Works, and ensures alignment, with the Procurement, Technology and Strategic Finance Governance and VPC teams to ensure strategic supplier management is considered in all purchase decisions, facilitating the handover into the contract/partner management teams and providing ongoing support and insight to address challenges with incumbent suppliers.
• Ensuring compliance with corporate product, procedural, regulatory, quality, environmental and corporate social responsibility policies
• Interfaces and collaborates with Group companies on related sourcing to maximise VodafoneThree’s leverage in the market place.
• Responsible for leading strategic sourcing initiatives across major spend categories, ensuring the effective use of market intelligence, data analytics, and best-in-class procurement practices to optimise value and mitigate supply chain risks.

Qualifications

Who You Are

• Experience of senior stakeholder level business partnering.
• Exceptional engagement and relationship building abilities (both internally and externally and, to all seniority levels). Naturally accessible. Able to communicate complex challenges in simple terms
• Strategically minded and creative, able to translate a vision into clear methodical plans with excellent negotiation and problem-solving ability.
• Significant experience of running substantive end-to-end Procurement programmes within blue-chip organisations
• Deep experience and thought leadership on the Procurement basics - contract law, negotiation, market dynamics,commercial strategy, strategic sourcing, supply management.

Additional Information

Need to know

We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to interview for a role that matches their skills. In collaboration with our Talent, Diversity & Inclusion teams and our employee-led DEI Networks, we identified a range of reasonable adjustments to help you feel comfortable and perform at your best self during the interview process. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please contact your recruiter directly or email [e-mail] for guidance.

We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements.

During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are—your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we’re looking for authenticity and can’t wait to get to know the real you.

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