Sense
Procurement manager
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About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Procurement Manager to join Sense and play a key role in developing our growing Procurement function.
Procurement is a relatively new function at Sense, supporting approximately £24 million of annual corporate expenditure. It’s an exciting opportunity to help shape how we procure goods and services across the organisation, delivering value for money while ensuring quality, resilience and positive outcomes for the people we support. Reporting to our Head of Procurement, you will help deliver our organisation-wide procurement plan, working with teams across Sense to understand their needs and providing practical, commercially focused advice.
You will lead procurement and tendering activity, manage key supplier and contract relationships and identify opportunities for savings, efficiencies and service improvements. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys being a trusted procurement partner, combining commercial thinking with strong relationships and helping colleagues make informed purchasing decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Work with teams across Sense to understand requirements, plan procurement activity and ensure goods and services are purchased at the right quality, cost and time.
- Lead and support tendering, quotation and negotiation processes, ensuring procurement decisions are fair, transparent and deliver value.
- Manage contracts and supplier relationships, setting clear expectations, monitoring performance and addressing issues where required.
- Identify and deliver savings, efficiencies and service improvements while balancing cost, quality, risk and operational requirements.
- Maintain accurate procurement plans, contract information and reporting, providing visibility of savings, risks and progress.
- Provide practical advice and guidance to colleagues on procurement, purchasing, contracts and supplier management.
- Identify supply chain, contractual and compliance risks and put proportionate actions in place to protect continuity of essential goods and services.
- Ensure procurement activity meets relevant legal, regulatory and Sense requirements.
- Champion ethical, sustainable and socially responsible procurement.
- Manage and support the Procurement Assistant, setting priorities and supporting their learning and development.
- Deputise for the Head of Procurement when required and represent Sense positively with suppliers, partners and relevant networks.
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About You
You will be an experienced procurement professional who combines strong commercial judgement with a collaborative and pragmatic approach.
We’re looking for someone with:
- Strong experience within procurement, purchasing or contract management, supporting a range of teams and spend categories.
- A good understanding of how effective procurement can deliver value for money, quality, strong governance and positive organisational outcomes.
- A proven track record of managing tenders, quotations and commercial negotiations.
- Experience managing contracts and supplier relationships, including addressing performance, service and cost issues.
- Experience identifying and delivering savings and efficiencies without compromising quality.
- The ability to identify and manage procurement, supplier and contractual risks.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to provide practical advice and influence stakeholders.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, records and reporting.
- A collaborative approach and a willingness to share knowledge and help colleagues understand effective procurement.
- A commitment to ethical, sustainable and socially responsible purchasing.
- A CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or an equivalent procurement or commercial qualification, would be desirable. We’ll also consider candidates willing to work towards this.
- Previous experience of supporting, supervising or managing others would also be advantageous.
About Sense
Sense is here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. That's why we're committed to increasing the number of disabled people working across our organisation and creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
We actively encourage disabled people to apply for our vacancies and believe that a diverse range of perspectives, experiences and talents makes us stronger.
We know there's always more we can do to become a truly inclusive employer, and we're working together to achieve that. Join us and help create the change thousands of disabled people with complex needs and families told us they want to see: a world without limits.
If you need us to adjust our recruitment process to help you access our vacancies, then please get in touch with a member of the talent acquisition team. We are a Disability Confident Leader and commit to interviewing disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for a role. More information on this can be found here Our commitment as an employer | Sense Careers
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Our Values
Our values shape the way we behave and work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers:
- We’re creating change
- We’re always learning
- We’re better together
To Apply
Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly. We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying.
Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.
If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 393 4529 or recruitment@sense.org.uk
Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.
For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. For more information please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity/
No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.
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