Birmingham City Council
Associate Major Procurement Programme and Projects Specialist

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Permanent
Grade 7 - £66,627 - £85,845
Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week
Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.
Lead the commercial strategy behind Birmingham's most significant investment programmes
Are you an accomplished commercial procurement leader with experience delivering major capital programmes? Birmingham City Council is looking for an Associate Major Procurement Programme and Projects Specialist to provide strategic leadership across our highest-value, highest-risk investment programmes.
This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape the commercial strategy for transformational projects that will have a lasting impact on Birmingham. Leading specialist teams and working alongside senior leaders, you'll ensure procurement delivers innovation, value for money, effective risk management and outstanding outcomes for the city and its residents.
About The Role
As the Associate Major Procurement Programme and Projects Specialist, you'll provide strategic leadership by:
- Leading the commercial strategy across a portfolio of major procurement programmes, ensuring alignment with Council priorities and delivering long-term value.
- Leading and developing specialist procurement and programme office teams, creating a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous professional development.
- Providing expert commercial advice to Corporate Directors, Senior Responsible Owners, Boards and Committees, supporting informed decision-making on the Council's most significant investments.
- Developing and approving innovative procurement strategies, commercial models and sourcing approaches for complex capital, regeneration and infrastructure programmes.
- Leading major commercial negotiations, supplier relationships and contract resolution activities, protecting the Council's interests while fostering collaborative partnerships.
- Overseeing commercial governance, procurement compliance and portfolio-wide risk management, ensuring delivery complies with the Procurement Act 2023 and the highest standards of ethical procurement.
- Championing innovation, technology and AI to strengthen procurement capability, improve delivery and maximise commercial outcomes across the major projects portfolio.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
We're looking for an exceptional commercial leader who combines strategic thinking with outstanding procurement expertise and leadership capability. You'll bring:
- Significant experience leading commercial procurement across major capital programmes or complex investment portfolios, delivering successful commercial and organisational outcomes.
- Extensive expertise in developing and approving complex procurement strategies, commercial models and high-value contractual arrangements.
- Strong experience leading major commercial negotiations, supplier management and dispute resolution within highly regulated procurement environments.
- Excellent knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, governance and commercial best practice, including the Procurement Act 2023.
- Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience advising senior executives, elected members and governance boards on complex commercial matters.
- Proven experience leading and developing high-performing procurement teams, building capability, resilience and commercial excellence.
- Full MCIPS membership (or equivalent professional expertise), together with recognised leadership experience or qualifications.
Why Join Us?
At Birmingham City Council, You'll Help Shape The Commercial Strategy Behind Some Of The City's Most Significant Investment Programmes. In Return, We Offer
- The opportunity to lead procurement across major regeneration, infrastructure and capital investment programmes that will transform Birmingham.
- A senior leadership role within an ambitious Commercial and Procurement Service committed to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Opportunities to further develop your strategic leadership, commercial and procurement expertise through ongoing professional development.
- Flexible and hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow.
- A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
- Access to a wide range of employee wellbeing initiatives and staff benefits.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
A rewarding career where your leadership will strengthen commercial delivery, improve public value and help deliver transformational outcomes for the people of Birmingham.
Please upload your up-to-date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer, but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.
Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.
We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.
For any informal enquiries please contact: Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.
Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.
Job Description and Person Specification - RM-00137100-Associate Major Procurement Programme and Projects Specialist-Job Description.pdf
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills