Senior Procurement Manager in Manchester

Lead a broad portfolio of multi-million-pound sourcing projects and act as the trusted procurement partner to senior stakeholders across Tf GM.

You will shape commercial strategies, challenge established routes to market and secure savings, service improvements, whole-life value and reduced risk from complex supplier arrangements.

• Client Details
• About Transport for Greater Manchester

Transport for Greater Manchester (Tf GM) is the organisation helping to shape a more connected, sustainable and inclusive transport future for the city region.

Its growing, multidisciplinary Commercial Services function brings together procurement, capital commercial, franchise and commercial delivery, corporate finance, supplier relationships, social value, governance and assurance.

The team works with colleagues from the earliest idea and market engagement through sourcing, contract award, mobilisation and supplier performance.

This is not a procurement function operating at the edge of delivery.

The team supports high-profile activity across the Bee Network, bus franchising, Metrolink, rail and station investment, fleet, technology, energy, active travel and public infrastructure.

Procurement at Tf GM helps secure the partners, operators, services, technology and infrastructure required to connect communities and improve millions of journeys, while also supporting good employment, local businesses, social value and carbon reduction.

Description

The opportunity

Commercial Services is where big ideas become real.

In this role, your procurement expertise will help Tf GM buy well, understand its markets, improve supplier relationships and secure sustainable value for customers, communities, taxpayers and the environment.

You will work with senior stakeholders and operational teams across the organisation, with the opportunity to influence how requirements are shaped and how suppliers deliver.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement and tendering activity through to final commercial arrangement, contract or framework sign-off, including multi-million-pound projects.
• Develop, critique and implement sourcing and commodity strategies based on organisational need, supply-market insight and commercial risk.
• Create complex tender documentation, assess responses and recommend the best-value option while minimising operational and commercial exposure.
• Identify and deliver significant savings, service improvements, cost reduction and whole-life value across a broad portfolio.
• Research alternative routes to market and contracting strategies, using market knowledge to influence senior stakeholders and executive decisions.
• Develop commercial recommendations, sourcing strategies and savings plans for presentation to senior governance groups.
• Build productive supplier relationships and use SLAs, KPIs, negotiation and continuous improvement to enhance contract performance.
• Challenge existing commercial approaches and identify opportunities for collaboration and shared value across Tf GM.
• Coach and advise stakeholders involved in procurement, building confidence, compliance and a stronger value-for-money culture.
• Manage a demanding portfolio of priorities and contribute to peer reviews, commercial planning and improvement of procurement processes. Profile
• The successful candidate
• Experience developing, critiquing and implementing commodity, category or sourcing strategies and recommending a preferred commercial option.
• Strong knowledge of procurement principles, concepts and techniques, including the preparation of high-quality tender documentation.
• Experience leading complex end-to-end tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract or framework award activity.
• A record of supplier management, relationship development and performance improvement across the contract lifecycle.
• The ability to build credibility, influence senior stakeholders and secure support for commercially led change.
• Good market-analysis capability, including awareness of supplier markets, commercial risk and company financial health.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the preparation and presentation of clear recommendations and reports.
• Confidence working independently and within multifunctional teams while managing competing deadlines.
• MCIPS qualification, or a willingness to work towards MCIPS.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a subject with analytical content, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience.
• A note on sector background

Tf GM values strong, transferable procurement capability.

Candidates from transport, infrastructure, utilities, energy, technology, professional services and other complex public or regulated environments are encouraged to demonstrate how their sourcing, category and supplier-management experience transfers.

• Job Offer
• What's on offer
• Salary shown for each role.
• 28+ days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave.
• Free rail, Metrolink and bus travel to and from work.
• Local Government Pension Scheme and associated life cover.
• Flexible and hybrid working embedded within policy and culture.
• Enhanced family-friendly leave, including maternity, adoption, paternity and fertility treatment support.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wider wellbeing support.
• Professional fee reimbursement where essential to the role.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• A visible career platform within a growing and modernising Commercial Services function.
• Application information
• Appointments are made on merit.
• Applications and CVs must be anonymised in line with Tf GM's recruitment requirements.
• Tf GM offers a Guaranteed Assessment Scheme and will support reasonable adjustments throughout the process.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK. Tf GM is not a licensed sponsor.
• Candidates should ensure their application is specific, evidence-led and grounded in their own experience