Procurement Manager in Watford

Overview

Make key projects happen at BRE! We have a great opportunity for an experienced Procurement Manager to join us at BRE at a pivotal point in our journey. This is a strategic role where procurement plays a critical part in enabling innovation, supporting sustainability, and delivering value across the organisation. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you’ll help shape how BRE sources and partners, ensuring our procurement activity supports our mission to build a safer, more sustainable built environment. Help BRE make buildings safer and more sustainable!

About BRE

BRE aims to be the world’s leading innovation, science and data hub for the built environment. For more than a century, we have provided government and industry with cutting-edge research and testing. Join us to help deliver products, advice, services, standards and qualifications used around the globe to make buildings better for people and the environment. Through science-led solutions to urgent challenges, we will build a thriving and sustainable world.

Your role at BRE

Role and responsibilities

• Lead procurement strategy across BRE, ensuring alignment with sustainability, innovation, and organisational objectives.
• Manage supplier selection, contract negotiations, and long-term partnerships to support research, certification, consultancy, and central services.
• Oversee day-to-day purchasing operations, ensuring timely sourcing of goods and services.
• Monitor supplier performance, including cost, quality, delivery, and ESG metrics, and maintain accurate procurement records.
• Ensure compliance with public procurement regulations, internal policies, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Act as procurement lead for ISO audits, maintaining documentation and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to provide guidance, communicate performance, and drive sustainable procurement practices.

Essential

What we are looking for

• Significant procurement experience in research, certification, consultancy, or complex organisations.
• Contract management experience for technical services, laboratory equipment, or sustainability-focused suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of ISO standards, sustainability frameworks, and relevant regulations.
• Proven negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and supplier management skills.
• Understanding of public procurement principles, frameworks, and contract law.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance cost, quality, and ESG objectives.
• CIPS qualification (MCIPS) or equivalent professional experience preferred.

Desirable

• Degree in procurement, supply chain, sustainability, or business management.

Key Competencies

• Align procurement strategies with organisational goals and sustainability objectives.
• Experience supporting ISO audits and working with external auditors.
• Strong analytical skills for spend, supplier performance, and audit data.
• Ability to communicate procurement policies and audit requirements clearly.
• Proactive, results-oriented, collaborative, and a champion for ethical and sustainable procurement.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution
• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary
• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more
• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform
• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Hybrid – This role offers a mix of home and office working. You will need to be within commuting distance of our Watford office, as you will be expected to attend in person.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

BRE contributes to a thriving and sustainable world by developing science-led solutions to built environment challenges. Our vision is to be the world-leading innovation, science, and data hub for the built environment. We’re ambitious in terms of quality and global scope. We want governments and commercial markets to recognise us and demand our services, products and solutions. We want to be world-class, innovative, science-led and provide solutions.