ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Procurement Excellence Manager, you will take ownership of delivering procurement excellence across key operational frameworks, including policies, governance, third party risk, and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM). By embedding best practices, driving process optimisation, and leveraging data-driven insights from our systems suite, you will identify new opportunities, reduce GNFR spend, increase supply chain resiliency and raise overall performance standards. As an advocate for the profession, you will harness market benchmarks, challenge the status quo, and lead initiatives that mitigate risk and maximise value across the Partnership.
You will work collaboratively across the business to unlock fresh opportunities and maximise commercial value for our customers. Working side-by-side with the Procurement Leadership team, you will be at the forefront of championing innovation, setting strategy into motion, and delivering excellence programmes that elevate the entire function while accelerating your own personal and professional growth.
Salary - £60,600 - £90,800
Contract type - This is a permanent position
Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business.
Key Responsibilities
- You will be responsible for working with the leadership team to develop and enhance the Procurement profession, requiring broad knowledge and expertise across Procurement.
- You will work closely with the Procurement leadership team to inform and influence the strategic direction and priorities of the profession, actively utilising external benchmarking and driving continuous improvement.
- You will be expected to proactively develop and demonstrate an understanding of internal and external trends across Procurement and a broader understanding of the wider market.
- This role will specifically focus on the evolution of the third party risk management and supplier relationship management frameworks and the delivery of key initiatives and programmes of work required to optimise these areas.
- You will be responsible for supporting the development of Procurement technical capability as part of process improvements across the profession, developing knowledge management to support Partner's development as highlighted by the Procurement Leads or as identified as part of external benchmarking . You will work with the Procurement leadership team to ensure that the overall capabilities support best in class Procurement.
- You will be responsible for developing the procurement policies, governance frameworks and associated controls across the Partnership in line with any legislative developments. You will deliver these through the Procurement team and will be responsible for ongoing functional performance reporting and monitoring.
- You will work with Partners across the business including Procurement Operations, Business Contract Managers and Risk Domains, to ensure the policies, and processes are complied with for all GNFR spend, together with ensuring performance reporting and monitoring includes the full end to end procurement activities irrespective of under which team is completing them.
- You will deliver Procurement policy and compliance for your assigned area, actively supporting and contributing towards supplier optimisation across the Partnership. You will ensure that your area of responsibility actively follows Procurement best practice, policy and procedures, utilising knowledge management best practices ensuring consistency with Partnership principles.
- This role also has people management responsibilities.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Extensive procurement / risk management / supplier relationship management experience
- Demonstrable experience in Supplier relationship management and/or Third Party Risk management.
- Strong knowledge of procurement systems, policy and process
- Demonstrable experience of applying continuous improvement (CI) principles and practices.
- Strong experience in building strong stakeholder relationships across varied stakeholder groups to drive key initiatives forward.
- Demonstrable ability to influence and shape decisions.
Desirable skills/experience you'll need
- Category Planning & Sourcing experience
- MCIPS qualified or working towards
- Professional Negotiation such as The GAP Partnership Essential and/or Complete Skilled Negotiator
- Professional Risk or Supplier relationship management qualification
- Understanding of Ethics & Sustainability and Supplier Diversity
Closing Date: October 12, 2026
Pay: £60,600.00 - £90,800.00 Annual
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: 35
Job Level: Partnership Level 6
Where You'll Be Working: Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire
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Procurement Excellence Manager in Bracknell employer: jlp
At Waitrose & Partners, we pride ourselves on being the largest employee-owned business in the UK, fostering a culture where every Partner is valued and empowered to make a difference. Our commitment to innovation and excellence in retail is matched by our dedication to employee growth, offering flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment that encourages personal and professional development. Join us in Wantage, where your passion for food and customer service will be celebrated, and together, we can create a happier world for our customers and ourselves.
