At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies and foster supplier relationships to optimise performance.
- Company: Join Unite Students, the UK's top provider of student accommodation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and health benefits.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values individuality and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic team while developing your procurement skills.
- Qualifications: Strong communication, analytical skills, and a customer-first mindset are essential.
Unite Students has an amazing opportunity for a Fixed Term Contract Procurement Manager in our growing procurement team.
Reporting to the Senior Procurement Manager - Technology, this interesting and varied role will provide professional procurement advice and support across the Indirects category. Ensuring value for money through strategic sourcing and competitive tendering, driving category strategy and fostering effective supplier and operational relationships to optimise performance and minimise supply chain risk.
What You`ll Be Doing
- The sourcing and commercial support across primarily across IT, Professional Services, however you may be required to support across any other significant operational category spend as required.
- Maintain excellent customer relationships with operational, project and support teams to enable fast problem solving and `one-team` mentality
- Sourcing, selecting and negotiating industry leading supply solutions that deliver real value to Unite, our suppliers, our customers and our shareholders alike
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date contract records, repositories and supplier information, including catalogues and punchout content.
- Being a procurement role model - demonstrating influence and commercial acumen, an active contributor to the success of the team
- Draft supply contracts and negotiating terms that maximise value and limit risk,
- Actively contributing to the wider team goals including our UNITE Environment, Social and Governance goals and Positive Impact helping us achieve our responsible business practices.
What We`re Looking for in You
- Ability to build relationships and rapport regardless of individual or level
- A `customer-first mindset` to ensure the supply requirements of the business are fully understood
- Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication in English, able to influence stakeholders and suppliers alike and achieve negotiate successfully
- Commercial skills: able to identify what is important and how it contributes to the success of our business and to that of our suppliers, delivering value through a variety of means
- Accountability: Able to prioritize work, meet deadlines and targets
- Analytical Skills: A curious individual, with strong problem-solving skills and techniques. Ability to manage large sets of data with close attention to detail
- An understanding and experience of Catalogue Management and Category Management
- Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of Procurement processes, specifically Supplier Relationship Management and Contracts Management is desirable
- Motivation: Strong desire to learn and develop in the Procurement/Supply Chain areas
What You`ll Get in Return
- A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
- 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
- A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
- Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
- Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
- Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!
About Unite Students
Founded in 1991, Unite Students is the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 23 leading university towns and cities, with 70,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.
Instinctive inclusion.
We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.
People make Unite Students.
Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.
Room for Everyone
We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.
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Procurement Manager - 6 Month FTC employer: Unite Foundation
Unite Group is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture where your contributions directly impact student safety and well-being. Located in Loughborough, this role provides flexible night shifts that allow for a balanced lifestyle while fostering personal growth through meaningful interactions with students. With a focus on teamwork and community, you'll find a rewarding environment that values your skills and dedication.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Manager - 6 Month FTC
✨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 Manager - 6 Month FTC
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 Unite Foundation 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, Unite Foundation 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 Unite Foundation 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 Unite Foundation 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 Unite Foundation
✨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.
