Head of Procurement in York

Join us as a Head of Procurement and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity! As Head of Procurement, you will be Fera's senior procurement subject-matter expert and functional lead, responsible for delivering a high-performing, best-in-class procurement service across the business. You will play an important role in helping Fera successfully deliver its five-year Growth Plan by securing value, managing supplier and supply-chain risk, strengthening governance and supporting business growth, including the integration of acquired businesses.

A proactive and influential business partner, you will work closely with Executive members, Heads of Business Unit and other senior stakeholders, while leading and developing the Procurement Assistant.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and deliver Fera's procurement strategy, policies, governance and annual priorities, aligned to the five-year Growth Plan, wider business objectives and recognised leading procurement practice.
• Act as the senior procurement subject-matter expert, providing authoritative, commercially pragmatic advice and constructively challenging stakeholders to achieve optimum procurement outcomes.
• Build strong relationships and ensure regular and pro-active communications with Executive members, Heads of Business Unit and key stakeholders, ensuring procurement is engaged early in strategic, operational and investment decisions.
• Pro-actively lead strategic sourcing, competitive tendering and complex supplier negotiations, securing best whole-life value while appropriately managing commercial, contractual and operational risk.
• Working with the Heads of Business Units, develop effective category management, spend analysis and demand management to identify opportunities for sustainable savings, cost avoidance, improved service, innovation and wider value creation.
• Establish strong supplier relationship and performance management, including oversight of strategic suppliers, service performance, continuous improvement and supply-chain resilience.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with Fera's governance framework, delegated authorities, ethical standards and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide procurement leadership for strategic projects, mergers & acquisitions and business integration, including supplier due diligence, synergy identification and the adoption of consistent procurement standards.
• Line manage, coach and develop the Procurement Assistant, setting clear objectives, supporting professional development and ensuring effective delivery of day-to-day procurement priorities.
• Drive continuous improvement through better procurement data, systems, processes, market insight and proportionate use of digital tools and automation; maintain clear reporting of procurement performance and benefits.

What we’re looking for:

• Substantial procurement experience in a complex commercial organisation, with a strong track record of operating as a senior procurement professional and subject-matter expert.
• MCIPS or an equivalent recognised professional procurement qualification, or demonstrably equivalent senior-level procurement expertise.
• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier relationship management, negotiation, procurement governance and third-party risk management.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering measurable value through procurement, including savings, cost avoidance, service improvement, supplier innovation and risk reduction.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage and challenge Executive Leadership Team members, Heads of Business Unit and other senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, sound professional judgement and the ability to balance business objectives, value, risk and governance.
• Proactive, innovative and solution-focused, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive change and continuously improve procurement performance.
• Strong leadership, organisational and people-management skills, with the ability to develop others and manage competing priorities effectively.

What’s in it for you?

• 25 days’ holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, free parking and a discounted on-site nursery.
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice.
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks…and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle – from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology.
• Fera operates a LTIP (Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis.

What we hope you’ll do next:

Choose ‘Apply now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you’d like to ask before applying, you can contact recruitment@fera.co.uk.

We’re an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We’re committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you’d like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at recruitment@fera.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.

The Company

At Fera, we’re making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We’re a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we’re working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.