At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and manage supplier relationships across key business categories.
- Company: Join a dynamic procurement team in a diverse international environment.
- Benefits: Long-term contract until July 2027 with stability and growth opportunities.
- Other info: Engage with multiple stakeholders and work on high-value projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on procurement strategies and drive innovation in a collaborative setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic sourcing, strong negotiation skills, and a degree-level education.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier partnerships? We are seeking a proactive and commercially minded Strategic Procurement Manager to join a high-performing procurement team supporting multiple business functions across a diverse international region.
This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of key spend categories across Marketing, Medical, Sales, and Corporate Services, driving sourcing strategies that deliver value, innovation, and business impact. This is a strategic sourcing role, focused on stakeholder engagement, supplier management, and procurement excellence rather than transactional purchasing.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across a range of business-critical categories
- Manage end-to-end tendering and competitive sourcing activities
- Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives
- Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts with suppliers
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, driving performance and value creation
- Partner with business stakeholders to establish preferred supplier strategies
- Provide commercial guidance and procurement expertise across the organisation
- Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier-related risks
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance standards, and financial controls
- Manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously while delivering to agreed timelines
What We're Looking For:
- Proven experience in strategic sourcing and category management
- Demonstrated success leading competitive procurement processes and supplier negotiations
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing contracts and supplier relationships
- Excellent understanding of procurement methodologies, sourcing strategies, and best practices
- Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholder groups simultaneously
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently with minimal supervision
- Strong Microsoft Office and general digital/AI tool proficiency
- Experience within pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated industries
- Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to work on high-value, strategic procurement projects
- Significant stakeholder exposure across multiple business functions
- Join a collaborative and highly experienced procurement team
- Long-term contract offering stability through July 2027
- Chance to influence supplier strategy and deliver meaningful commercial impact
Procurement Specialist in England employer: Planet Pharma
Join a leading biopharmaceutical organisation in Slough, where innovation meets collaboration. As a Scientist in Antibody Formulation Development, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee growth and offers unique opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking research. With a focus on professional development and a supportive team environment, this role promises a rewarding experience for those passionate about advancing biopharma solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Specialist in England
✨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 Specialist in England
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 Planet Pharma 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, Planet Pharma 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 Planet Pharma 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 Planet Pharma 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 Planet Pharma
✨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.
