Head of Procurement in Antrim

This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established and growing specialist construction business. With a strong reputation built over two decades, the company operates across the UK and Ireland, delivering high-quality projects for some of the most recognised names in retail, hospitality, aviation, healthcare, commercial and heritage sectors. The procurement function is well established but the business now wants to take it to the next level. This role will bring strategic leadership and operational structure to the team, moving the department from a reactive to a proactive footing. The successful candidate will design and own the procurement strategy, implement robust processes, manage the team and supply chain, and play a genuine role in shaping how the business buys going forward. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior role with genuine scope to shape a procurement function. You will have the autonomy to introduce your own processes, the support of an experienced leadership team, and the platform of a business with a strong pipeline and a well-regarded name in the industry.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Strategy & Process
  • Develop and implement a robust procurement strategy with the Procurement Manager - encompassing risk identification, budget management and project spend tracking.
  • Design and roll out a clear end-to-end procurement process covering purchase requests from site through to receipt of goods and payment.
  • Conduct cost analysis on a quarterly basis to inform commercial decision-making.
• Sourcing & Supplier Management
  • Work with the Procurement Manager and buyers to source the right products, ensuring all projects are completed on time and within budget.
  • Negotiate contracts, rates and prices with suppliers to ensure best value.
  • Compile and maintain a list of commonly purchased items from key suppliers, reviewed quarterly and shared with the wider team.
  • Manage supplier relationships in a fair and reasonable manner, ensuring the business is prioritised when required.
  • Encourage engagement with new and innovative suppliers, subject to satisfactory review of capacity and capability.
  • Constantly evaluate existing suppliers and assess new suppliers as they are introduced.
  • Monitor and review market conditions on a regular basis to inform purchasing decisions, including regular price reviews with key suppliers.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Manage, mentor and support the procurement team to execute timely approval of all supplier invoices, ensuring payment on time and prompt resolution of any issues.
  • Manage a number of live projects directly to maintain close working knowledge of current and ongoing issues for both the buying team and site managers.
  • Standardise and implement training across the team to improve measurement procedures - with particular emphasis on tile ordering and associated accessories, ensuring all measurements are double-checked with the CM/PM.
• Workshop & Stock Management
  • Work with the Procurement Manager to implement a monthly or quarterly stock count procedure for the workshop, enabling closer management of stock levels and identification of fast and slow-moving items.
• Subcontractor Management
  • Liaise with the Commercial Manager to compile and analyse data on the performance of the subcontractor network, providing structured feedback.
  • Support the assessment of new subcontractors, evaluating their suitability, credentials and capacity to be added to the supply chain.
• Logistics & Transport
  • Oversee product transport where required, maximising the use of empty vehicles returning from UK Mainland or Republic of Ireland.
  • Investigate and develop part-load options with hauliers to improve transport efficiency and reduce costs.

Candidate Criteria

• Proven experience in a senior procurement or supply chain role, ideally within construction, manufacturing, fit-out, or a related sector.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end procurement processes including sourcing, tendering, contract negotiation, purchase-to-pay and supplier performance management.
• Demonstrable experience managing, mentoring and developing a team, with the ability to drive accountability and performance.
• Confident and skilled negotiator with a track record of securing best-value supplier agreements and managing commercial relationships at a senior level.
• Ability to interpret spend data, identify cost-saving opportunities and produce meaningful cost analysis reports on a regular basis.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships across site teams, commercial managers, suppliers and senior leadership.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities without loss of quality or attention to detail.

Contact: Nicky Strutt