Procurement Specialist - IS & Marketing

Due to continued growth, Howdens is looking for an experienced procurement professional to manage a significant portfolio of indirect spend, worth approximately £180 million annually. This role focuses on delivering value for money, cost savings, and strategic supply solutions that support the business’s operational needs and growth plans. You will lead and support sourcing activities, negotiate contracts, manage supplier relationships, and work closely with stakeholders across the business to develop and implement effective procurement strategies. Key Responsibilities – Strategic Procurement – Support the development of the Indirect Procurement strategy. Manage tenders, RFQs, and benchmarking exercises; evaluate supplier proposals; and make commercially sound recommendations aligned with the business needs. – Category Management – Manage sourcing, and ongoing management of indirect categories, ensuring spend is optimised and suppliers deliver maximum value. – Negotiation & Contracting – Negotiate commercial terms, working with legal and procurement colleagues to ensure robust contracts are in place. – Supplier Relationship Management – Build strong relationships with key suppliers, monitoring performance, identifying improvements, and ensuring service levels meet business needs. – Stakeholder Engagement – Collaborate with internal teams to understand requirements, challenge current supply strategies, and develop innovative sourcing solutions. – Continuous Improvement – Drive year-on-year improvements in cost, service, and quality. About You – Experience in indirect procurement experience in a large organisation is desirable – Strong negotiation skills with proven commercial acumen. – Solid understanding of contract law and commercial contracts. – Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills. – Highly organised, resilient, and self-motivated. – Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present data clearly. – CIPS qualification (or working towards) is desirable. What We Offer – The opportunity to work on high-value, high-impact procurement projects. – Exposure to a wide range of categories and senior stakeholders. – A role that combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. – The chance to shape long-term supplier relationships and deliver measurable business benefits. What we can offer you – Competitive Salary + Bonus – Pension Plan with a maximum company contribution of 12% – 25 days holiday + bank holidays with an opportunity to purchase additional days – Staff discount – Ongoing support and development – Free lunch at our onsite canteen – Free onsite car parking – Friendly and supportive environment offering exceptional reward and recognition About us: Howdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier providing thousands of products across kitchens, joinery, and hardware. We have over 900 depots throughout the UK and Europe – making us the first choice for more than 460,000 loyal trade professionals. With an ambitious and credible growth plan, we continue to build on our £2.3 billion sales made last year. There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast-paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, is among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens—and why we have been named one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For. How to apply: Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email (url removed) with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you. #LI-NB1