At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing, negotiate contracts, and support major business transformations.
- Company: A leading UK media organisation embracing innovation and AI in procurement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £75k, 10% bonus, hybrid work, and great benefits.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of procurement with AI and automation.
- Qualifications: Experience in indirect procurement and strong commercial negotiation skills required.
A leading UK media organisation is looking to appoint an ambitious Procurement & Contracts Manager to support a broad portfolio of Corporate Services spend during a period of significant transformation and M&A processes. This is a varied, commercially and contracts focused role covering categories including People Services, Marketing, Data, Facilities Management, Property and wider professional services. The position will have a particularly strong focus on contracts, commercial negotiations, spend analysis and supporting business-critical change/separation programmes. The organisation is also investing heavily in the practical use of AI within procurement. You will have the opportunity to work closely with procurement leadership on AI development, process automation and new ways of approaching spend analysis, negotiations and procurement operations. This opportunity would suit an adaptable procurement professional who has developed a strong grounding in indirect procurement and is now ready to step into a broader, more influential role.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end sourcing, commercial negotiations and contract activity across a broad portfolio of Corporate Services categories.
- Partner with stakeholders to understand business requirements, challenge existing approaches and develop commercially robust solutions.
- Review spend, supplier and contract data to identify savings, efficiencies, risks and opportunities for greater automation.
- Support major business transformation and integration projects, providing procurement and commercial input throughout the project lifecycle.
- Contribute to the development and practical application of AI, data and automation across procurement processes.
Skills and Experience:
- Previous experience delivering indirect procurement projects within a complex organisation, consultancy or similarly fast-paced environment.
- Broad category exposure across areas such as People Services, Marketing, Professional Services, FM, Property or Data-related services.
- Strong commercial and contracting capability, including experience supporting negotiations and reviewing supplier agreements.
- Comfortable working with spend data, identifying opportunities and turning analysis into clear commercial recommendations.
- A genuine interest in AI, procurement technology and how new tools can improve sourcing, negotiations and operational processes.
The Ideal Profile:
- An ambitious procurement professional ready to take on greater ownership and stakeholder exposure.
- Adaptable and comfortable moving between different categories, projects and business priorities.
- Commercially curious, solutions focused and willing to challenge established ways of working.
- Confident operating in an environment where processes and technology are continuing to evolve.
- Keen to get involved beyond traditional procurement delivery and help shape future procurement capabilities.
What’s on Offer:
- Salary of up to £75,000 plus a 10% performance-related bonus.
- 12-month fixed-term contract with exposure to high-profile transformation/M&A and integration work.
- Hybrid working, with two days per week in the London office.
- Benefits package including access to a salary sacrifice car scheme.
- The opportunity to join an established procurement function and play a meaningful role in its AI and digital development.
Procurement & Contracts Manager in City of London employer: Talent Drive | B Corp
At Talent Drive | B Corp™, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture in the heart of London. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through mentorship opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. With a competitive bonus structure and a hybrid working model, we ensure our team members enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance while contributing to meaningful projects in the procurement sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement & Contracts Manager in City of London
✨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 & Contracts Manager in City of London
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 Talent Drive | B Corp 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, Talent Drive | B Corp 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 Talent Drive | B Corp 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 Talent Drive | B Corp 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 Talent Drive | B Corp
✨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.
