At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-value procurement projects and develop innovative sourcing strategies.
- Company: Prestigious government arm with a focus on strategic sourcing.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, opportunity for impactful work, and professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for career advancement in a regulated environment.
- Why this job: Make a difference in public procurement while enhancing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree educated, MCIPS qualified, and significant procurement experience.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
STRATEGIC SOURCING MANAGER - PRESTIOUS ARM OF GOVERNMENT, 6 MONTHS INITIALLY. MILTON KEYNES / LONDON BASED.
£600 PER DAY INSIDE IR35 / UMBRELLA. OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED!
Job Purpose
The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for delivering sourcing strategies for complex, medium to high-value procurements.
This role operates in close collaboration with Strategic Category Managers, Supplier Managers, and senior stakeholders to optimise value, manage risk, and ensure compliance within a regulated procurement environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead sourcing delivery for high-value and business-critical procurement projects (typically £300m–£500m annual spend influence).
- Develop and implement end-to-end sourcing strategies aligned to integrated category plans.
- Act as the lead negotiator, securing commercial benefits and cost savings, ensuring validation and alignment with finance objectives.
- Collaborate with stakeholders at senior level (Head of/Director level) to shape sourcing pipelines and ensure strategic alignment.
- Challenge business demand and drive aggregation opportunities to maximise value and efficiency.
- Ensure sourcing activities meet all regulatory, legislative, and governance requirements (e. g. public procurement compliance).
- Provide expert sourcing advice, introducing innovation and best practice to deliver competitive advantage.
- Conduct market analysis and supplier benchmarking to optimise Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
- Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships to support transition from sourcing into supplier management.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of sourcing professionals, fostering capability growth and high performance.
- Key Skills & Experience
Essential
- Degree educated or equivalent experience.
- MCIPS qualified or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Significant sourcing/procurement experience of working in government roles, and ideally within complex environments (infrastructure or engineering)
- Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings and commercial benefits.
- Strong people management and leadership experience.
- Advanced negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
- Experience working in cross-functional, stakeholder-heavy environments.
- Strong influencing skills with the ability to navigate complex organisational structures.
- Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capability.
- Commercially focused with a value-driven approach.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the UK rail industry and public procurement regulations.
- Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking and delivery
- Commercial acumen
- Stakeholder management and influencing
- Leadership and team development
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Risk management and governance
Is This You?
If you are a Procurement Manager / Sourcing Manager with public sector experience we want to hear from you!
Send your application and we will be in touch to discuss this urgent role within hours...
Strategic Sourcing Manager in Northampton employer: NRGTech Talent Solutions
As a leading name in the manufacturing sector, our company offers an exceptional work environment for the Plant Manager role based in Manchester. With a strong focus on safety, employee development, and operational excellence, we provide competitive compensation, including a generous bonus structure and car allowance, alongside opportunities for professional growth across multiple European sites. Join us to be part of a culture that prioritises continuous improvement and values the contributions of every team member.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Sourcing Manager in Northampton
✨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 Strategic Sourcing Manager in Northampton
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 NRGTech Talent Solutions 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, NRGTech Talent Solutions 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 NRGTech Talent Solutions 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 NRGTech Talent Solutions 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 NRGTech Talent Solutions
✨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.
