Procurement Strategist

The University of Southampton is seeking an exceptional Procurement Strategist to play a pivotal role in supporting the procurement team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our organisation and contribute to enabling the university to achieve its goals.

The successful candidate will have experience of delivering procurements for complex and routine requirements in a regulated environment, ideally with public sector procurement experience. They will be able to provide strategic oversight in the development of the procurement and contract management operating framework across the organisation.

You will:

• Enable the implementation of the Procurement strategic plan, working with Category and Contract managers to assess team workload, prioritise and allocate projects; and review progress against agreed deadlines.
• Lead a team of specialists, providing reliable data and MI driving business decisions and ensuring systems operate reliably and efficiently.
• Be the strategic lead on commercial contract management practice, ensuring there is an appropriate framework in place, monitoring and evaluating supplier performance, driving innovation and added value through supplier management.
• Deputise for the Head of Procurement.

Our estimated salary for this position is £60,000 - £80,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience.

We offer a range of benefits, including:

• 44 days leave per year (including 6 University Closure days and 8 days public holidays).
• Excellent pension scheme (University Superannuation Scheme).
• Hybrid working (based 1-2 days at our lively Highfield campus).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounted access to our sports complex.
• Assistance with relocation if applicable.