Procurement Lead

£50,000 to £55,000 per annum plus bonus and benefits.

12 month FTC

Our reputation as the UK’s largest newspaper and magazine wholesaler speaks for itself. Every day, we serve more than 22,000 customers from 34 distribution centres across the country. Behind every nightly miracle is a team of dedicated people carrying out more roles than you realise – we’re the unseen force that delivers. So when we say we’re excited for what the future holds for our customers and colleagues, you can trust we’re as good as our word.

This role will lead the Procurement Activity focusing on our Go National programme and ensuring the timely placement and delivery of all associated requirements. Ensuring best practice procurement processes are followed and to identify opportunity, through savings, demand and continuous improvement/ risk management. The Procurement Lead is a trusted advisor to our business at all levels - working cross-functionally to bring about “positive change” and value-added supply solutions.

About the role

• Full accountability for the procurement life cycle relevant to the programme and associated categories.
• Provide procurement expertise to identify opportunity, create and deliver sourcing strategies, managing and continuously improving the contract and supplier relationship
• Conduct opportunity analysis, working with the business to identify (and at times challenge) need – agreeing requirements and specification that leverage value
• Undertake market research – demonstrating knowledge and professionalism in the techniques used and identification of target market players
• Run tenders (RFx) both through eSourcing and traditional methods, analysing results to identify the optimum solution(s)
• Negotiate the best terms to suit our business
• Lead cross-functional teams in the development and implementation of strategic sourcing plans that reflect and deliver the programme strategy. Continually lead and challenge the evaluation and identification of requirements following full spend and specification and strategy analysis to ensure that developed procurement strategies are aligned with our business.
• Deliver a professional SRM programme for area of accountability across the business, developing and measuring KPI's and Service Level Agreements that represent our business’ need
• Working with our suppliers and partners to deliver continuous improvement

What we can offer you

Not only do we offer free onsite parking, 4x salary life assurance and 5% match pension but you’ll also have access to:

• Company bonus
• Company funded Health Cash Plan – providing cash back for everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy
• 24/7 E-Learning modules, Training and Development opportunities
• Sharesave Scheme, Cycle to work schemes, Health cash plan

About you

• Proven experience at all stages of the Procurement Lifecycle, creating and deploying successful sourcing strategies and plans at a strategic, complex and operational level for programmes
• Required – Procurement and Contract Management of JCT Contracts
• Facilities and Property stakeholder support
• Excellent, proven, commercial and negotiation skills
• High level of market knowledge and ability to demonstrate thought leadership
• Evidence of driving change through the ability to influence and persuade with creative thinking - strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Managing relationships with suppliers for mutual benefit and continuous improvement
• Adept at working with, and negotiating, contract terms and schedules
• Experience of leading procurement governance and delivering value in an operational environment
• Analytical and curious by nature, open trusted and friendly in approach
• A good understanding of procurement systems (eSourcing, eAuctions, contract management, SRM, analytics & P2P)
• MCIPS qualified or equivalent experience

Please note: you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

A career with us is a career filled with people, pride, and passion. We rely on each other to get the job done, and we deliver what we say we will. Let’s see if we can rely on you, too.