Central Procurement Manager

We are seeking a highly skilled Procurement Manager to lead and optimise our Central procurement operations. You will be responsible for developing and implementing our people plan, procurement strategies, managing supplier relationships, ensuring cost-effective purchasing while maintaining high-quality standards and proactively managing the daily operations of the Central Procurement Team. This role requires a strong customer-centric approach, analytical skills, negotiation expertise, and the ability to drive efficiency in procurement processes.

Key responsibilities will include:

Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing procurement team.
• Inspire and motivate team members to achieve individual and collective goals.
• Foster a customer-centric, positive, and collaborative working environment.
• Act as the escalation point for all queries and issues within the Central Procurement Team.
• Resolve or escalate issues in a timely and effective manner to ensure smooth operations.
• Manage people planning, budget management, workload distribution, performance reviews, and training identification.
• Facilitate or coordinate training sessions to enhance the team's skills and knowledge.

Category Management and Framework delivery:

• Develop and execute procurement strategies to support business objectives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement with business needs.
• Analyse market trends and assess risks to improve sourcing decisions.
• Map out and manage a supplier engagement plan.
• Develop, implement, and manage the category plan.
• Support the Procurement team in managing the end-to-end tender process for multiple packages, including preparing and issuing Invitations to Tender (ITT)/Requests for Quotation (RFQ), and completing reconciliation and recommendation reports.
• Assist the team in negotiating commercial terms, conditions, and service levels (including KPIs) with suppliers.
• Optimise cost savings while maintaining quality and service standards.

Supplier onboarding & performance management:

• Oversee the end-to-end supplier onboarding process, ensuring an industry-compliant approach that safeguards our people, organisation, and clients.
• Assist and support supplier audits to gain a better understanding of supplier capabilities and ensure compliance with MWH policies and procedures.
• Monitor and manage the supplier performance process to drive continuous improvement for the benefit of the organisation and stakeholders.
• Manage key supplier relationships to optimise performance in cost and/or quality.
• Provide final approval for supplier evaluations.

Process management and improvement:

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, and industry regulations.
• Implement and oversee procurement best practices and process improvements.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in procurement processes.
• Support and promote supply chain sustainability across all supply chain interactions, ensuring alignment with our organisation's values.
• Manage the maintenance of our P2P system, ensuring accurate and cleansed data to enable data-driven decision-making.

Report delivery:

• Prepare and present regular board reports outlining procurement activities, achievements, and challenges.
• Serve as the focal point for supplier stability, ensuring that supply chain risks are communicated to the business.
• Develop and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess team and individual performance.
• Analyse market trends and assess risks to enhance sourcing decisions.

Other:

• Undertake other duties, training, and/or hours of work as reasonably required, consistent with the general level of responsibility for this role.
• In all internal and external contacts, present a professional and positive image of the department and RSK, while maintaining mutually constructive, positive, and beneficial relationships.
• Take all reasonable steps to ensure appropriate confidentiality.
• Always carry out your purchasing duties in line with the CIPS Code of Conduct.

Qualifications/Experience/Person Specification

• A demonstrable track record of managing a high-performance central procurement team.
• Advanced-level knowledge of Category Management procurement models.
• A proven track record of delivering bottom-line benefits.
• Experience in shaping procurement policies and procedures.
• Hands-on experience with the end-to-end supply chain process, including managing contracts, expediting orders, and managing delivery from global suppliers in a diverse group.
• Strong character, comfortable challenging supply chain colleagues at all levels in the business.
• Ensure continuous professional development by participating in external networking, conferences, associations, groups, and training, to stay current on industry changes and innovations.
• Maintain a resilient, positive, and solution-oriented approach to work, providing open and honest feedback.
• MCIPS or willingness to work towards it.

Competencies

• True customer centric approach to procurement delivery.
• Strong communication and leadership capabilities.
• Excellent analytical and decision-making abilities.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Able to work to strict deadlines.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Motivated and resilient.
• Clear and concise communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel/Power BI.
• Proficiency in procurement software and P2P systems.
• Ability to manage budgets and cost-saving initiatives.
• Knowledge of Visio and process diagram creation is desirable.
• Strong character, comfortable challenging supply chain colleagues and other stakeholders at all levels of the business.

Key Relationships

• Operational delivery teams - Project Delivery, Procurement, and Commercial
• Our clients
• Supply chain partners
• Head office teams - Engineering, Design, Legal, and Finance
• Wider RSK Group procurement team