Senior Procurement Manager

Senior Procurement Manager – Capital Projects & Compliance

Central Hertfordshire | Circa £70,000 per annum | 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract

We are working with an established research organisation in Central Hertfordshire to recruit an experienced Senior Procurement Manager for a 12-month fixed-term contract.

This is a hands-on, project-focused opportunity requiring a strong understanding of public-sector procurement legislation, governance and compliance, alongside the ability to manage complex procurement activity and deliver against critical deadlines.

The immediate priority will be supporting five significant capital procurement projects, ensuring appropriate procurement routes, supplier engagement, approvals and documentation are in place to allow projects to progress efficiently and compliantly.

Following this initial phase, the role will support wider improvements to procurement policies, procedures, contract management and procurement planning.

The role

• Lead and support procurement activity across five priority capital projects, identifying appropriate procurement routes and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and funding requirements.
• Advise on procurement frameworks, competitive tendering and single-tender approaches where appropriate.
• Support supplier engagement and progress procurement activity already underway.
• Prepare and maintain procurement documentation, tender justifications, approval records and clear audit trails.
• Work closely with senior finance colleagues, operational stakeholders and suppliers to resolve procurement challenges and minimise project delays.
• Review and improve procurement policies, procedures, templates and governance arrangements.
• Support the development of contract registers, renewal pipelines and future procurement planning.
• Assist with spend analysis and procurement reporting as the wider programme progresses.
• Provide practical guidance, coaching and support to an existing procurement team member.
• Identify procurement risks, dependencies and opportunities for process improvement.

About you

• MCIPS qualified – essential.
• Significant hands-on procurement experience within a public-sector or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK public procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023.
• Proven experience managing complex procurement exercises from initial planning through to supplier selection and contract award.
• Experience of capital projects, estates, facilities management, construction or infrastructure procurement would be particularly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of procurement frameworks, tendering processes, governance and audit requirements.
• Experience developing or improving procurement policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to work independently and deliver within tight timescales.

Experience within higher education, research, NHS, local government or other publicly funded organisations would be particularly relevant.

The opportunity

This position would suit an experienced Senior Procurement Manager, Procurement Project Manager or hands-on Head of Procurement who enjoys taking ownership of complex projects and delivering tangible improvements.

The successful candidate will play a key role in progressing critical capital procurement activity while strengthening procurement processes and governance across the organisation.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please get in touch.