Job Details

Strategic Procurement Manager

Organisation: Orbis – Local Authority Partnership

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Procurement professional to join Orbis, supporting its partner local authorities in delivering effective, innovative and commercially focused procurement strategies.

Orbis supports partner councils with a combined annual spend of approximately £1.3 billion across goods, works and services. The successful candidate will take responsibility for developing and delivering strategic procurement plans across a major spending area, ensuring value for money, strong commercial outcomes and compliance with relevant procurement legislation.

This is a senior position involving complex, high-value procurement projects, strategic stakeholder engagement and the management and development of a small team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver strategic procurement and category management plans across an allocated spending area.
• Lead complex procurement projects and high-value tendering exercises, including major contracts worth approximately £50m–£100m.
• Manage procurement projects from initial planning and route-to-market decisions through to contract award and benefits realisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve value for money, achieve cost savings and deliver better commercial outcomes.
• Advise senior stakeholders, including Directors and Heads of Service, on procurement strategies and commercial decisions.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with relevant public procurement regulations, legislation and organisational procedures.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, partner authorities and internal stakeholders.
• Drive social value through procurement projects in line with organisational policies.
• Lead, coach and develop a small team of procurement professionals.
• Monitor project delivery, budgets, resources and procurement benefits.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Significant experience in strategic procurement and category management.
• Proven experience developing and implementing procurement strategies.
• Experience leading complex, high-value tendering and commercial projects.
• Strong understanding of public procurement regulations and relevant legislation.
• Experience managing commercial contracts, supplier relationships and negotiations.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, including cost analysis and value-for-money principles.
• Experience influencing and engaging senior stakeholders.
• Previous experience leading, coaching or mentoring procurement professionals.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver strategic projects to deadlines.

Qualifications

• CIPS Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Degree or equivalent professional qualification, alongside substantial relevant senior-level experience.

Procurement Areas

The role will cover one of three major procurement categories:

• Health & Social Care: Healthcare, social care and associated service provision.
• Assets & Infrastructure: Property, construction, housing, maintenance and infrastructure.
• Corporate & Business: IT, technology, professional services and corporate services.

Additional Information

• Work across multiple local authority partners within the Orbis partnership.
• Develop strategic procurement plans with a two-year horizon.
• Lead major contracts typically lasting 3–5+ years.
• Work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Some flexibility and travel between partner authority offices will be expected.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established procurement professional to take ownership of significant strategic projects and influence commercial outcomes across a major public-sector partnership.