Procurement Operations Lead

I am working with a fast-paced, ambitious, and agile client with 14 years of proven success. They are a team of go-getters, proud to work with hundreds of amazing, well-known brands, helping them to buy better so they can focus and invest in what they do best.

As the Procurement Operations Lead, you will have responsibility for the overall procurement operations including overseeing central buy desk activities, spend management control tower, driving business adoption of requisition processes, and PO administration. You will define and oversee PO administration workflows across all in-scope categories of spend, establish spend control tower processes to review purchases, validate spend approvals, and challenge purchase quantities.

You will own and improve the end-to-end procurement process, provide training and communications to business stakeholders, and monitor/report on process compliance.

This role requires advising on productivity, efficiency, feasibility, and processes by assessing indirect spend, developing an improvement plan, and supporting the implementation of new strategies. You will also oversee risk assessments, business process analysis, and data analysis to advise on ways to improve overall operations.

You will drive maximum return for the client by leading procurement operations activity, working to a high standard, delivering satisfaction, commercial benefit, and business improvement. Stakeholder relationship management will be key, alongside prioritising activity, opportunities, and risks.

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated and experienced Procurement professional to join a high-performing team with a track record of delivery. We are looking for someone with gravitas at the highest organisational levels, who can build strong relationships while driving delivery at pace.

Chief Operating Officer

Relevant line into client leadership teams where applicable

Lead procurement delivery operations, overseeing the central buy desk, accountable for operations through category planning, process governance, and improvement.

Manage, train, and coach the ‘Buying Desk’ team to handle procurement processes, contract negotiation, PO execution, and systems management.

Develop and manage a pipeline of indirect procurement projects that reflects both the client’s priorities and objectives.

Ensure appropriate prioritisation, reviewing projects constantly, being the key contact for onboarding, SOPs, and change management.

Anticipate and manage opportunities, risks, and challenges, developing implementation plans to ensure objectives, cost, productivity, accuracy, and timelines are achieved.

Maintain senior stakeholder engagement to ensure satisfaction and procurement guidance.

Define and oversee PO administration workflows across in-scope spend categories, driving process compliance and adoption.

Establish and lead a spend control tower process to validate spend approvals and challenge purchases.

Leverage strong tech skills (Excel, PowerPoint, data analysis) and confidence with procurement/finance systems (e.g. Jira, Workday, Oracle, ServiceNow).

Maximise savings and benefits delivered for the client, ensuring high-quality, pacey delivery.

Use data-driven sourcing analysis to inform category decisions and strategic purchasing.

Collaborate with colleagues across global teams (US, UK, EU, Asia) to solve issues and implement new systems.

Ensure all work is carried out in the client’s best interests with a high standard and consistent quality.

Support communication between suppliers and the client to achieve mutual satisfaction.

Follow due process and governance from both internal and client perspectives, minimising risks and ensuring proper authority at each stage.

Essential

Proven experience operating at a similar level in Procurement/commercial roles

Strong relationship management; confident and credible at C-Suite/Board level

Strong category knowledge across indirect spend

Excellent organisational and time management skills

Team management, coaching, and stakeholder gravitas

Solutions-focused, adaptable, relationship-oriented

Highly tech-savvy (Excel, PowerPoint, data analysis)

Quick learner, confident in procurement/finance systems

Ability to adapt to new technologies to drive efficiencies

Highly Desirable

Experience in a procurement service provider/interim role

Analytical, problem-solving mindset

Project management experience

Exposure to tools such as Jira, Workday, Oracle, ServiceNow, project platforms

MCIPS qualification

Salary: £50,000 – £65,000 (total package)

Working Pattern: Minimum 3 days per week on-site

Location: Dorset

Benefits: 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, Nest pension, and additional benefits in development