At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies and manage contracts to drive impactful projects.
- Company: Join ARIA, a forward-thinking organisation at the forefront of innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days leave, hybrid work, and a supportive learning environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping funding mechanisms and driving change.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 £ per year.
Department: Procurement and Contracts
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: London
Compensation: £90,000 / year
Description
Salary: £90,000
Bonus: Discretionary
Location: Kings Cross, London (Tuesdays‑Thursdays – 3 days in our office, Monday + Friday – anywhere)
Closing Date: From 13th of May, we will transition to a rolling application process. The role will remain open until we have identified a strong shortlist of candidates for the interview stage.
At ARIA, we believe that breakthroughs are driven by people. As a member of the procurement and contracts team, you will be at the heart of our operational engine, acting as a bridge between Programme Directors, operational teams, and external partners, and ensuring every interaction is human, thoughtful, and engaging.
What you’ll do
- Design and deliver funding and procurement approaches: Work at pace with Programme Directors to shape and deliver funding mechanisms from early concept through to award.
- Support programmes as they evolve: Partner with teams post‑award, helping adapt contracts and funding structures as programmes pivot, scale, or change direction.
- Manage contracts with purpose: Oversee the end‑to‑end lifecycle of contracts, ensuring clarity, fairness, and effectiveness.
- Improve systems and ways of working: Continuously refine templates, processes, and guidance to make procurement and contracting simpler, smarter, and more scalable as ARIA grows.
- Enable innovation within a governance framework: Help navigate the balance between agility and accountability, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations while supporting novel and non‑traditional approaches.
Who you are
A successful candidate will bring many of the following skills/experience to the role:
Essential criteria
- High Autonomy: We don’t micromanage; we trust you to take full accountability, proactively identifying bottlenecks and building solutions before problems escalate.
- Agile & Adaptable: You thrive in environments where the “right way” isn’t always written down. You are comfortable operating in ambiguity, with a proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.
- Strong procurement commercial experience: You bring experience across procurement, commercial, contracts, or funding delivery. You’ve led open and competitive sourcing processes and know how to run them effectively in practice, not just in theory.
- Strong commercial judgement: You combine sharp attention to detail with sound judgement, navigating contractual terms and conditions with confidence while keeping broader outcomes in mind.
- Strong communication and relationship‑building: You build trust quickly and work effectively across multiple stakeholders and projects, ensuring alignment and momentum even in complex environments.
Desirable criteria
- Systems Thinker: You don’t just do tasks; you build systems to make everything run smoother.
- Cross‑Sector Experience: You’ve worked across both public and private sector environments and understand how to navigate different commercial, regulatory, and delivery contexts.
- You bring an appreciation for innovation‑driven settings, whether in research, technology, or fast‑moving organisations, and know how to adapt your approach accordingly.
- CIPS or equivalent
Benefits
- 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
- Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
- Discretionary performance‑related pay
- Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
- Enhanced family leave arrangements
- A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
- Life Assurance
- 2 days of paid volunteer days
- 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
- Cycle to Work scheme
- An excellent office location in Kings Cross, London
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process. ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle.
Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager employer: Aria
At ARIA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Located in the vibrant Kings Cross area of London, our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while ensuring that our team members are supported through generous benefits such as 27 days of annual leave, enhanced family leave arrangements, and continuous learning opportunities. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation where your contributions truly matter and where you can grow both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at ARIA or similar organisations. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching ARIA’s projects and values. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your skills align with our mission and how you can contribute to our innovative environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your procurement experience and how you’ve tackled challenges in the past. We love candidates who can share real examples of their problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement and contracts, and show us how you can bring value to our team at ARIA.
Showcase Your Skills:We want to see your strong commercial judgement and relationship-building skills shine through. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've navigated complex environments and built trust with stakeholders.
Be Authentic:Let your personality come through in your application. We’re looking for someone who thrives in ambiguity and has a proactive mindset, so don’t be afraid to share your unique approach to problem-solving and innovation.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aria
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your procurement and contracts knowledge. Understand the latest trends, regulations, and best practices in the field. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed contracts and funding mechanisms in the past.
✨Showcase Your Adaptability
This role requires someone who thrives in ambiguity. Prepare examples of how you've navigated complex situations or adapted to changing environments. Highlight your proactive approach to problem-solving and how you've built solutions before issues escalated.
✨Build Relationships
Strong communication and relationship-building skills are key. Think of instances where you've effectively collaborated with multiple stakeholders. Be ready to share how you’ve built trust quickly and maintained momentum in complex projects.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Judgement
Be prepared to discuss your experience with commercial judgement. Share specific examples of how you've navigated contractual terms while keeping broader outcomes in mind. This will show that you can balance compliance with innovative approaches.
