Procurement Contract Manager in Ipswich

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering. Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

About The Role

12 Month Fixed Term Contract
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday
Based out of our Ipswich office with regular travel to other sites

Role Overview

Reporting to the Head of Hard FM Procurement, the Procurement Contract Manager will lead the development and mobilization of the sub‑contracted supply chain for a key new account across the country. Primarily Midlands and London locations, travel expected. The role will be an intricate part of the contract mobilisation with defined objectives for delivery within the first 6 months of the contract. The Procurement Contract Manager will develop the supply chain with the guidance of the Category Managers, ensuring compliance to preferred suppliers (PSL), developing and owning the relationships, reporting back to the business on performance. Whilst negotiating front end cost reductions, cost avoidance and ensuring reactive and PPM works are managed with a robust local and national supply chain. Attend client facing calls, create and manage client report outputs, capture savings, cost variances & track cost avoidance, have full ownership of the supplier relationship for the accounts for the region. They will work closely with the wider Category Management team to embed the category strategy preferred suppliers into the accounts. The Procurement Contract Manager will be expected to support the teams with inputs on data and ideas to help create and execute a project plan that maximises value. This is a high visibility role with access to business senior stakeholders.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Create and execute a client account supply chain strategy for hard and soft services to reduce total cost, improve quality of supply and mitigate risk within the supply chain, working to deliver the supplier strategies set by the category managers.
• Regular supplier engagement and management; building strategic, value adding relationships and driving performance through data driven management and relationship building.
• Managing and running end-to-end sourcing activities and supporting the Head of Procurement in high risk / value opportunities.
• Identifying, evaluating, negotiating and contracting with new suppliers.
• Regular benchmarking of current inputs, services and suppliers to ensure our supply chain is delivering maximum value and innovation.
• Lead initiatives including rationalisation to increase spend compliance and concentration with preferred suppliers, delivering improved efficiencies and driving category maturity.
• Support the development of a preferred supply chain and fixed cost agreements.
• Support strategic supplier relationships holding regular business reviews whilst developing performance data to report back to the business.
• Take ownership of suppliers and sub‑contractors to support operations on specific accounts.
• Support regional directors with customer relations to enhance our service offering.
• Able to demonstrate technical procurement knowledge in managing an operational supply chain and mobilization of new client accounts to support supply chain decisions.

General

• Avoid conflict of interests between personal interests and the interests of the UK & Ireland group.
• Exercise independent judgment, reasonable care, skill and diligence when carrying out their duties.
• Act in good faith and promote the long‑term success of each company within the UK & Ireland group for the benefit of all members and wider stakeholders.
• Adhere to and promote the UK & Ireland group's policies on equality & diversity, information security, health and safety and data protection in the performance of their duties and the management of the departmental functions reporting into them.
• Support and promote the UK & Ireland group's sustainability plans and policies, including the Carbon Management Plan, and carry out duties in a resource effective way, recognising the shared responsibility of minimising negative environmental impacts wherever possible.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Necessary

• Previous Hard FM experience.
• Project procurement experience.
• Tendering experience.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Operational and tactical supply chain experience, ability to be reactive.
• Be a fixer by nature.
• Results driven with a flair for negotiation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Data focused with a proven track record for generating ideas for cost reduction.
• Demonstrable knowledge of owning supplier management and performance measurement.
• A strong team player with the ability to work in a cross‑functional team.
• Ability to build sustainable and productive relationships with suppliers.
• Uses data and market research to make recommendations for improvement.

Desirable

• CIPS qualification (Level 4 - 5).
• Security clearance.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining a business that encourages professional development, career progression and the chance to work with inspirational people then please click apply and register your interest! You can also sign up to our job alerts when registering which will notify you when other suitable vacancies are available. We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.