Head of Procurement in Bury St Edmunds

We have an exciting and very rare opportunity to join us as our Head of Procurement to lead the continuing transformation of our procurement function, implementing our Procurement Strategy and driving a culture where compliance and efficiency go hand in hand. In this leadership role, you will oversee the end-to-end contract management process, provide advice and support to operational teams on key strategic contracts, and ensure all purchasing activity is compliant with legislation and internal policies. You will also take management responsibility for our procurement and insurance team, support the Insurance Coordinator in managing the end-to-end insurance process, and deliver meaningful procurement reporting to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

We own and manage c.8,000 homes in the east of England, working closely with other agencies and stakeholders within our communities. We build on the good foundations we have in place in being a customer-centric organisation, investing in our existing homes - including our zero-carbon journey - as well as building new homes.

A lot of our roles come with options around home and office flexible working, as well as a generous annual leave allowance and other benefits.

Requirements

Outline of key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Procurement function, managing the team to ensure objectives and targets are met and that personal development goals are supported and achieved.
• Establish, enforce and continuously develop procurement policies and procedures across the business, ensuring full compliance, clear documentation and the ability to demonstrate value for money at all times.
• Provide expert strategic procurement advice to operational teams on key contracts, attending strategic contract meetings where required and ensuring risks are identified and managed in line with business expectations.
• Champion and develop a corporate procurement culture where compliance and efficiency complement each other, ensuring the most appropriate procurement solution is consistently delivered to meet business needs.
• Identify longer-term, sustainable savings through continuous review and improvement of procurement processes, implementing changes that deliver lasting value for the organisation.
• Deliver the end-to-end contract management process, ensuring all purchasing activity across the business is compliant with relevant legislation and internal policies and procedures.
• Undertake ad hoc cross-business projects as required, providing financial decision support, analysis and management information to inform sound commercial decision making.
• Support and advise on the end-to-end insurance process for the business, working closely with the Insurance Coordinator to ensure the organisation's insurance requirements are effectively managed and compliantly delivered.

We are looking for someone who has:

• A CIPS Level 5 qualification or be actively working towards achieving this, demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence and continuous development within the procurement field.
• Extensive senior procurement and supplier management experience, with a proven track record of delivering compliant, efficient and value-driven procurement services within a complex organisation.
• A strong and up-to-date knowledge of procurement policies, contracts, best practice and Procurement Regulations, with the ability to apply this knowledge confidently across a wide range of procurement activity.
• Proven experience of leading change and process improvement initiatives, with the ability to drive a corporate procurement culture that balances compliance and efficiency effectively.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, delivering high-quality outcomes across a varied and demanding workload.
• A track record of working successfully across cross-functional teams, building effective relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels to achieve the best possible procurement outcomes.

Benefits

In return, we are offering:

• An annual salary of £73,978.00.
• Flexible working around a 37 hour week.
• Annual Leave - 28 days per year, (plus bank holidays) increasing to 32 days when you reach your 3rd year with us. To give greater flexibility around your holidays you can also buy, sell or carry over up to 5 days of annual leave each year.
• Pension – between 7% - 12% dependant on individual contribution.
• Life assurance - a payment of X3 your salary.
• Annual Flu Jab - provided each winter to all employees.
• Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme - plus we currently have free electric charging points.
• Competitive medical cashback plan.

At Havebury we operate a no closing date policy and evaluate candidates upon application. Therefore please apply without delay. Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a Basic Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made. Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.