At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement activities and manage competitive tendering in the public sector.
- Company: Established public-sector organisation with a focus on growth and impact.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive pay, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Immediate start available with flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make an immediate impact while enhancing your procurement expertise in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in public-sector procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
An opportunity for an experienced public-sector procurement professional to make an immediate impact. We are working with an established and growing public-sector organisation seeking an experienced Interim Procurement Business Partner to provide procurement expertise and support across a varied procurement portfolio. This is an initial 6-8-month assignment, offering an immediate start for someone who can quickly establish themselves, take ownership of procurement activity and provide effective commercial support to key stakeholders.
The role will involve leading and managing competitive tendering exercises, running mini-competitions through established procurement frameworks, supporting strategic sourcing activity and ensuring procurement processes remain compliant with relevant public-sector legislation. You will work closely with the Head of Procurement and internal stakeholders, providing specialist advice, managing supplier relationships and identifying opportunities to deliver value for money, efficiencies and commercial improvements.
The Role
- Taking responsibility for a range of procurement activities, your duties will include:
- Leading and managing end-to-end procurement and competitive tendering exercises, ensuring compliance with relevant public-sector procurement legislation.
- Managing further competitions and mini-competitions under established procurement frameworks.
- Developing and implementing sourcing strategies to achieve best value and commercial efficiencies.
- Working closely with internal stakeholders to understand requirements, challenge specifications and provide appropriate procurement solutions.
- Managing supplier negotiations, commercial evaluations and contract award recommendations.
- Building effective supplier relationships and monitoring contractual performance.
- Identifying opportunities to deliver cost savings, efficiencies and wider commercial benefits.
- Providing specialist procurement advice and guidance to stakeholders.
- Supporting procurement governance, compliance and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Managing competing priorities and ensuring procurement activity progresses to agreed timescales.
About You
We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who can operate confidently within a public-sector environment and make an immediate contribution. You will ideally have:
- Demonstrable procurement experience within a public-sector organisation - essential.
- Strong experience managing end-to-end tendering and competitive procurement exercises.
- Practical experience of running mini-competitions and further competitions under public-sector frameworks.
- A good working knowledge of public procurement legislation, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and/or Procurement Act 2023.
- Strong commercial negotiation, supplier management and contract management skills.
- The ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders and provide sound procurement advice.
- A commercially focused approach, with a track record of delivering savings and procurement improvements.
- The ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and hit the ground running.
- MCIPS qualification or working towards professional accreditation would be advantageous.
- Previous NHS or healthcare procurement experience would be beneficial, although candidates from local government, central government and other public-sector organisations will also be considered.
Assignment Details & Working Arrangements
- Duration: Initial 6-8-month assignment.
- Start: Immediate start preferred.
- Location: Milton Keynes.
- Working pattern: 37.5 hours per week.
- Hybrid working: Flexibility to consider as little as 1 day per week or even 1 day per month for the right candidate, subject to agreement.
- Flexible hours: Flexibility around start and finish times.
- Compressed hours: Open to considering the full 37.5 hours across 4 days.
If you are an experienced public-sector procurement professional available for an interim assignment and have the tendering, framework and stakeholder management experience required, we would be keen to hear from you. Please get in touch for a confidential discussion and further details.
Procurement Business Partner in Milton Keynes employer: Huntress
Join a prestigious luxury automotive brand in Chiswick, where we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer experiences. Our welcoming and professional work culture fosters growth and development, offering you the chance to shine in a high-end hospitality environment. With competitive pay and a commitment to inclusivity, we ensure that every team member feels valued and empowered to provide outstanding service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Business Partner in Milton Keynes
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Business Partner in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Huntress that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Huntress can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Huntress that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Huntress know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Huntress
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
