Director of Procurement in Chelmsford

Interim Procurement Director – Transformation

Essex| £700–800/day | 6–12 Months

A high-growth, PE-backed business services group is seeking an Interim Procurement Director to lead a critical transformation programme across its procurement function.

This is a hands-on, high-impact assignment for a proven procurement leader who can hit the ground running from day one.

The Business

£150m+ of managed spend, operating a subcontractor-led delivery model across a labour-intensive supply chain. The organisation is investing in its procurement capability as part of a wider finance and operations transformation agenda.

The Role

• 6–12 month interim assignment, £700–800/day (IR35 status to be confirmed)
• Based in Essex, 4+ days per week in the office
• Full accountability for procurement strategy, governance and performance across a £150m+ spend base
• Report to the Group CFO

Key Priorities

• Drive a Procurement transformation programme, improving processes, controls and commercial discipline across a subcontractor-heavy spend base
• Lead and develop a team of 15 procurement professionals
• Partner closely with Operations on supplier onboarding, compliance and risk management
• Develop tax compliance processes, including VAT and off-payroll working (IR35) considerations across the supply chain
• Support a Purchase-to-Pay improvement project, working closely with Finance and IT stakeholders
• Build strong business partnering relationships across the leadership team, embedding procurement as a strategic function

About You

• A proven Procurement Director with a track record of delivering transformation at pace
• Background in built environment, facilities management, construction or labour-focused contracting essential
• Knowledge of CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) desirable
• Strong stakeholder management and business partnering skills
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, hands-on environment with full autonomy from the outset