Procurement Manager in Stirling

We’re recruiting for a Procurement Project Manager to join our growing organisation! If you’re a procurement professional who loves variety, challenge, and making a real impact — this might just be your next move.

A Procurement Project Manager will be responsible for contributing directly to the success of client institutions across Scotland, on a project basis. The post holder will be deployed to various client institutions across Scotland, typically on a long/medium-term basis. They can be based remotely or in an APUC core office location.

All our Procurement Project Managers should have demonstrable experience of working within a procurement role with some autonomy, and have relevant tendering experience with appropriate knowledge of EU / Scottish procurement regulations. Of paramount importance are excellent stakeholder management, organisational and communication skills. In return, you will gain exposure to the diverse categories across the sector or perhaps be aligned to a highly specialist research project – all whilst being a part of a 90+ team of friendly procurement professionals who meet throughout the year for networking and professional development activities. If you like the idea of working on mission-driven projects with a target date, are willing to build your capacity for delivering continuous improvements based on knowledge of different institutions and projects (over time) all whilst being an ambassador for APUC.

The post holder will be required to utilise techniques of cost reduction, supplier selection and demand management, along with production/leverage of enhanced management information, market intelligence and advanced supplier/contract management techniques including monitoring and delivery of improvements in ethical/social and environmental aspects and continue to maintain APUC’s position as a leading Centre of Procurement Expertise.

Key Role Information:

Salary: Circa £50,000 per annum

Location: Remote or Hybrid (Occasional travel to client institutions as required)

Permanent, Full time (although requests for other working patterns/hours will be considered)

How to Apply: Send your CV and covering letter to careers@apuc-scot.ac.uk

Responsibilities:

• Manage seniorand operational stakeholder and key supplierrelationships;
• Manage routine higher value tendering and implementation of collaborative agreements in the institution; Manage the procurement of institution wide specific goods/services/works requirements;
• Increase the Procurement Capability of the Institution;
• Assist in the deliveryof institutional focussedprocurement awareness training;
• Represent the institution on the variousforums and contribute to sector wide joint initiatives in relation to procurement;
• Assist in undertaking statutory UK procurement reporting for the institution and routine procurement reporting from data for the relevant academic year; and, Implement the requirements of Procurement Legislation
• Develop and facilitate the procurement processes based on the “Procurement Journey”and provide operational guidance for / to those involved in lower value procurement below formal tender levels;
• Assist in implementing the Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement ActionPlan and move the institution to raising its attainment level versus the Flexible Framework;

Knowledge and Skills:

• Have effective and highly responsive customer management skills; Be of high intellectual calibre, with the highest ethical standards;
• Membership of the CharteredInstitute of Purchasing and Supply or working towardsthis (preferred);
• Have the essential competencies of clarity of purpose, self-confidence, integrity with strong influencing ability; Have knowledge of Scottish/UK purchasing legislation as it relates to the HE/FE sector;
• Demonstrate sound commercial acumen;

Experience:

• Have proven organisational skills and be capable of meeting demanding targets and deadlines on a day-to-day basis;
• Have extensive procurement experience including the management of end-to-end tender processes, contract drafting and negotiation and contract management;
• Experience in production and manipulation of procurement related data and production of management reports; Advanced data manipulation skills and the ability to use financial models

Contacts and Relationships:

• The post holder must build strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders and develop the reputation of APUC as a source of expert guidance and support both to institutional customers and suppliers; and,
• Must be able to influence, negotiate and achieve consensus with clients, colleagues and contractors.
• They must maintain a positive, supportive, can-do attitude at all times and be a role model for less senior staff.

About APUC

Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC)is the Centre of Procurement Expertise for, and owned jointly by, all of Scotland's Universities and Colleges. With collaboration, responsibility, and integrity at the heart of what we do, we're all about helping our member institutions achieve their objectives, whether you are putting together Framework Agreements, reducing the sector’s carbon emissions or working directly in one of our client institutions.

Joining APUC means joining a community of peers, and getting the chance to get together often and having network opportunities throughout the year. Peer support and collaboration is integral at APUC. We currently employ around 90 people, most of whom are based within Colleges and Universities but with some based in our regional offices in Stirling (HQ), Glasgow and Edinburgh

Why work for us:

• We aim to provide a work life balance for colleagues and offer flexible work options for all including flexible start and end times and options to take longer or shorter lunches as preferred.  Full time hours are 35 hours per week and can be compressed to work either 4.5 days per week, 9 days per fortnight (so a long weekend every 2 weeks) or work 5 x 7 hour days per week.

• Your holiday entitlement (given in hours) is equivalent of the total of 26 x 7 hour days and 14 x 7 hour fixed and floating days which will be pro-rated for part time hours to cover bank holidays and the festive break.

• We are closed for the festive period (between Christmas and New Year) and Good Friday and Easter Monday. Every year!

• You will be automatically enrolled into our pension scheme and our Group Life Assurance which is based on your annual salary from day 1 of employment.

• We offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay (subject to eligibility criteria).

• Career development is important to us and all staff have regular performance reviews and there is a variety of funding options to enable staff to pursue professional and leadership qualifications, as well as other learning and development opportunities such as access to our Procurement Skills Development Programme and internal workshops.

• We have an Employee Representative and Consultation Group, who meet quarterly. We regularly ask for feedback in a variety of ways at company events or through surveys.

•  Cycle-to-work schemes are available with Cycle Solutions and Halfords (maximum value of £3,000).

• Retail and gym membership discounts & offers with access to our mydiscounts portal.

• Home & Technology benefit is an affordable way of accessing new technology by making savings on National Insurance. Products include tablets, laptops, desktops, SmartTV's, games consoles along with garden furniture and equipment, home improvement tools and more.

• Access to Scotwest Credit Union which offers a range of affordable loans, mortgages and savings accounts.

• We have an Employee Wellbeing Policy and Annual Plan, a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders, and all of our people managers are trained in providing support for employees experiencing mental health issues. Our EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) can be accessed through an online portal which gives access to a library of health and wellbeing articles, as well as allowing you to book counselling sessions.

• Wellbeing activities and events are organised throughout the year in accordance with key national mental and physical health awareness dates.

How to Apply

Send your CV and covering letter to careers@apuc-scot.ac.uk