Procurement Manager (Pioneer) in Cardiff

Who are Admiral Pioneer? Admiral Pioneer exists within Admiral Group as a venture studio, providing the greenhouse in which to grow new businesses. We’re leveraging Admiral’s strengths to deliver commercially strong businesses that answer the financial needs of new audiences and respond to emerging opportunities. We seek to disrupt the markets we enter, taking a truly customer‑centric approach. We achieve this by experimenting and proving new products, business models and partnerships through a disciplined, discovery‑driven approach.

The role involves supporting procurement activity across all Pioneer businesses, providing oversight and guidance to junior team members, while working autonomously to improve processes, manage suppliers, and deliver value for money. You’ll work closely with stakeholders across the business to keep procurement practical, proportionate, and easy to engage with. As part of a growing team, you’ll play a key role in shaping procurement practices and building strong, collaborative relationships across Pioneer.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and lead procurement activity across the full lifecycle, from requirements gathering and supplier identification through to tendering, contract negotiation, implementation, onboarding, and renewals, ensuring compliance with internal governance and best practice.
• Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders (including finance, legal, data protection, information security, and risk) to ensure procurement activity meets business requirements and governance expectations.
• Manage ongoing supplier and contract relationships post‑award, including overseeing contractual obligations, supporting performance reviews, monitoring service delivery, and managing change within agreed contractual parameters.
• Identify and elevate emerging commercial, performance, or risk issues to the Senior Procurement Manager / Head of Procurement as required.
• Act as a key point of contact for procurement‑related queries within Pioneer, providing practical advice and guidance while escalating significant issues, risks, or exceptions to the Head of Procurement.
• Ensure procurement activities are conducted in line with relevant regulatory, legal, and group requirements, proactively identifying and escalating risks or compliance concerns.
• Maintain procurement tracking, reporting, and supplier performance information, providing regular updates and insights to support informed decision‑making.
• Contribute to the development and ongoing improvement of the internal procurement function, supporting the creation, documentation, and consistent application of procurement policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiencies, process improvements, risk reduction, and performance enhancement, making recommendations to the Head of Procurement where appropriate.
• Support procurement‑related projects and initiatives, including onboarding, governance, controls, and contract management activity across Admiral Group entities, helping to ensure effective delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Provide management, day‑to‑day support, guidance, and knowledge sharing to junior procurement staff, contributing to their development and fostering a collaborative and continuous improvement culture.

Essential experience:

• Demonstrable extensive procurement experience, ideally within a regulated or fast‑paced environment.
• Strong understanding of the end‑to‑end procurement cycle, including supplier identification, tendering, negotiation, contract management, and supplier performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of contract law and experience working alongside legal, risk, and compliance teams.
• Track record of identifying and delivering cost and quality improvements, as well as process innovation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to make data‑driven recommendations and support strategic decision‑making.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships at all levels.
• Proven ability to support and influence senior leadership, while acknowledging established reporting lines and escalation protocols.
• Ability to balance and effectively prioritise a varied workload, operating with autonomy but escalating key decisions as appropriate.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Interview Process:

At Pioneer, we like to keep things transparent, so you know what to expect. Our interview process usually includes 1 stage on site. We aim to complete the process as quickly as possible, but we’ll always work around your availability. You’ll be supported by our recruitment team throughout, and if you have any questions, please get in touch.

As a Disability Confident Leader, for candidates with a disability or long‑term health condition, that opt into the Disability Confident scheme, we’ll invite a fair and proportionate number of applicants that meet the essential requirements of the role to the first stage of our selection process. If you need any adjustments or support with your application or during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Admiral: Where You Can We take pride in being a diverse and inclusive business. It's a place where you can Be You, and show up as you are. We’re committed to fostering a people‑first culture where everyone is accepted, supported, and empowered to be brilliant. You can, Grow And Progress at a pace and direction that suits you, Make A Difference for our customers and each other, and Share in Our Future with all colleagues eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service. Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) when they join us, increasing the longer you stay with us, up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave. We’re proud of our people‑first culture. In fact, we've been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, a Great Place to Work for Wellbeing, and an overall Great Place to Work for over 25 years! We’re fully committed to making sure your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality or any of the protected characteristics. Our fantastic benefits make sure our colleagues have a great work‑life balance.