Manage wider opex procurement

• Develop and deliver procurement strategies across key opex categories and projects.
• Manage sourcing activity, contract renewals, supplier governance, KPI reviews and commercial challenge across the operational portfolio.
• Conduct spend analysis to identify cost reduction, value improvement, standardisation and supplier performance opportunities.
• Strengthen supplier relationship and contract management across key opex suppliers.

Strengthen governance and reporting

• Maintain compliance with VIRTUS procurement policy, Delegation of Authority and internal approval processes.
• Strengthen opex procurement governance, with clear controls, approval routes and decision-making discipline.
• Maintain accurate audit trails, procurement trackers and action logs.
• Report clearly to senior stakeholders on spend trends, procurement progress, risks, decisions required and commercial opportunities.

Experience and Qualifications:

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Commercial Management, Business, Engineering, Facilities Management or a related discipline.
• Proven procurement, sourcing or supply chain experience — ideally in data centres, critical infrastructure, facilities management, telecoms, construction, engineering, real estate or operational services.
• Track record of managing end-to-end tenders: strategy, PQQ/ITT, market engagement, evaluation, negotiation, award recommendation and mobilisation support.
• Experience procuring or managing operational service categories such as FM, Security, Cleaning, hard and soft services, maintenance, technical services or outsourced service contracts.
• Strong grounding in supplier selection, commercial evaluation, contract negotiation, SLAs, KPIs and supplier performance management.
• Experience working across cross-functional stakeholder groups, including Operations, Facilities, Security, Engineering, Finance, Legal and senior management.
• Comfortable operating in a controlled governance environment with defined approval routes, auditability and commercial discipline.

Desirable

• CIPS qualified or working towards CIPS membership.
• Experience managing external consultants or procurement support partners.
• Experience of multi-country or European sourcing.
• Familiarity with SAP, Ariba, contract repositories and procurement reporting tools.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to balance cost, service quality, risk, compliance and operational continuity.
• Good understanding of opex procurement, outsourced service contracts and operational supplier management.
• Strong tender management capability, including planning, documentation, supplier communication, clarification management, evaluation and recommendation writing.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder groups across Operations, FM, Security, Engineering, Finance, Legal, site teams and external consultants.
• Strong supplier management skills, including negotiation, performance review, issue resolution and continuous improvement.
• Ability to challenge requirements, supplier assumptions and commercial proposals constructively while maintaining strong working relationships.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear tender documentation, evaluation summaries, approval papers and procurement reports.
• High attention to detail when reviewing tender submissions, commercial proposals, assumptions, exclusions, risks and contract requirements.
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, approvals and stakeholder inputs.
• Confident working in a fast-moving operational environment where procurement decisions can affect service continuity, compliance and customer experience.

In line with VIRTUS’ Vetting Policy, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo a BS7858 screening process.

VIRTUS is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.

We reserve the right to close this post for applications should sufficient applications be received.

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