Senior Procurement Manager

Join the West Midlands Combined Authority as a Senior Procurement Manager and play a leading role in shaping strategic procurement activity that delivers real impact across the region. As part of our nationally award-winning Procurement team, you will oversee a diverse portfolio of procurement programmes that support the Mayor’s ambitions for transport, housing, regeneration and inclusive economic growth.

This is a senior leadership opportunity with responsibility for managing and developing a team of 4–5 Procurement Managers, providing strategic direction across complex procurement activity and acting as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders across the organisation. You will lead on high-value and high-profile procurements, ensuring compliant, commercially robust and value-driven outcomes that support organisational priorities.

We are looking for an experienced public sector procurement professional with strong people management skills and expert knowledge of the PA2023 and PCR2015. You will also understand the important role procurement plays in delivering social value, sustainability and wider community benefits, alongside the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and drive continuous improvement across the function.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with Procurement Business Partners and senior stakeholders to identify opportunities to maximise value for money, shape category strategies and support the successful delivery of strategic procurement initiatives across the organisation.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of 4–5 Procurement Managers, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management to ensure a high-performing, customer-focused procurement service.
• Oversee the delivery of complex procurement projects and savings opportunities, ensuring objectives, benefits and success criteria are achieved in line with organisational priorities and stakeholder expectations.
• Establish and maintain effective demand management and pipeline planning processes across WMCA, ensuring visibility of current and future procurement activity.
• Embed Social Value and Real Living Wage principles into procurement strategies, tender documentation and contract delivery, ensuring wider economic and community benefits are achieved.
• Champion the importance of procurement across the organisation, promoting best practice, continuous improvement and strong commercial governance to support WMCA’s strategic objectives.
• Provide expert advice on UK public procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations 2015, ensuring all procurement activity remains compliant and aligned to current policy and best practice.
• Set, monitor and review team objectives and development plans, supporting continuous professional development and alignment with WMCA’s organisational and performance management objectives.
• Act as the senior procurement lead for designated business areas, leading end-to-end tender activity and providing trusted commercial advice within a regulated public sector environment.

Essential Qualifications

• Extensive public sector procurement experience, with strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations 2015, including leading complex end-to-end procurement activity in a regulated environment.
• Proven experience managing and developing a team of Procurement Managers, with the ability to provide leadership, coaching and performance management across multiple workstreams.
• Strong business partnering and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, build credibility quickly and provide trusted commercial advice across the organisation.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how procurement can deliver wider social value, sustainability and community benefits alongside value for money and compliance.

Location

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

Benefits

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more.
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.
• You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.

Reasonable Adjustments

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

Inclusive Workplace

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supports fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part‑time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK

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.

Non‑UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

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