Senior Procurement Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 10, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 9, 2026.
Contract to start ASAP until 12-02-27 with a possible extension.
Full job description
Senior Procurement Manager - Cheshire West and Chester Council
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Contract: Temporary interim contract from 16 November 2026 to 12 February 2027
Lead Strategic Procurement and Commercial Delivery Across Council Services
We're recruiting an experienced Senior Procurement Manager to join Cheshire West and Chester Council, based at The Portal, CH65 0BE.
This is a senior procurement and commercial role responsible for leading complex procurement activity, developing sourcing strategies, managing high-value tenders and supporting effective contract and supplier management across Council services.
You'll work closely with senior stakeholders, service leads, legal colleagues, finance teams and suppliers to ensure procurement activity delivers value for money, complies with relevant regulations and supports the Council's strategic priorities.
About the Role
As Senior Procurement Manager, you'll provide strategic procurement leadership across a portfolio of complex and high-value projects.
You'll lead procurement planning, market engagement, tendering and evaluation activity while providing commercial advice and ensuring robust governance throughout the procurement lifecycle.
What you'll be doing:
- Leading complex and high-value procurement exercises
- Developing procurement and sourcing strategies
- Providing strategic commercial advice to senior managers and service leads
- Managing end-to-end tendering and procurement processes
- Preparing procurement documentation, specifications and evaluation criteria
- Leading market engagement and supplier consultation
- Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant legislation, regulations and Council procedures
- Managing tender evaluations and supporting contract award decisions
- Providing advice on procurement risk, governance and commercial options
- Supporting contract negotiation and mobilisation
- Working closely with legal and finance colleagues
- Supporting contract management and supplier performance
- Identifying opportunities for savings and improved value for money
- Managing procurement pipelines and project priorities
- Supporting category management and strategic sourcing initiatives
- Preparing reports, briefings and governance papers
- Supporting procurement transformation and service improvement
- Providing leadership, coaching and guidance to procurement colleagues
- Maintaining accurate audit trails and procurement records
Requirements
We're looking for a highly experienced procurement professional with strong strategic, commercial and stakeholder-management skills.
You'll ideally have:
- Significant experience in senior procurement or commercial management
- Experience leading complex and high-value public-sector procurement exercises
- Strong knowledge of procurement legislation and public procurement requirements
- Experience developing sourcing and category strategies
- Strong tendering, evaluation and contract award experience
- Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing commercial risk
- Strong stakeholder-management skills
- Experience working with senior managers, legal and finance teams
- Ability to manage multiple complex procurement projects
- Strong analytical and commercial decision-making skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience delivering savings and value-for-money improvements
- Previous local authority or wider public-sector procurement experience would be highly desirable
- CIPS qualification or equivalent professional procurement experience would be advantageous
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgement
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide relevant references/work history
- Ability to complete required pre-employment checks
Why Apply
- Senior procurement opportunity with Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Competitive Umbrella rate of £43.92 per hour
- Full-time 37-hour working week
- Opportunity to lead complex and high-value procurement activity
- Chance to work with senior stakeholders across multiple Council services
- Opportunity to influence commercial strategy and value-for-money outcomes
- Interim assignment through to February 2027
- Professional role within a large public-sector procurement environment
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: Cheshire West and Chester Council
Job Title: Senior Procurement Manager - Grade 14
Location: The Portal, CH65 0BE
Positions Available: 1
Hours: 37 hours per week
Start Date: 16 November 2026
End Date: 12 February 2027
Contract Type: Temporary / Interim
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £43.92 per hour
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Pay: £43.92 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you have significant experience working in senior procurement or commercial management?
- Have you led complex and high-value procurement exercises within the public sector?
- Do you have strong knowledge of public procurement legislation and tendering requirements?
- Are you experienced in procurement strategy, supplier negotiation and contract award?
- Have you previously worked within a local authority or wider public-sector procurement team?
- Are you able to reliably travel to The Portal, CH65 0BE?
- Are you available to start from 16 November 2026?
Experience:
- Senior Procurement / Commercial Management: 3 years (required)
- Public Sector Procurement: 3 years (preferred)
- Complex Tender / Contract Management: 2 years (required)
- Category / Strategic Sourcing: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement qualification (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
5309613-11-26