Associate Director - Procurement

An excellent opportunity for an Associate Director – Procurement to join a global, multidisciplinary consultancy based in Leeds.

The successful Associate Director will play a key leadership role within an expanding Contract Services team, delivering best-in-class procurement and contract advisory services. You will lead full end-to-end procurement solutions for key clients, with a particular focus on Healthcare, Ministry of Defence, aviation, rail and digital procurement programmes.

This position sits within the firm’s growing Contract Services division and offers the opportunity to shape strategic procurement approaches, influence commercial outcomes and support complex, high-profile programmes across a broad range of public and private sector environments.

Hybrid working is available, subject to client and project requirements.

Project Details

The successful Associate Director will work alongside a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team delivering:

• Best-in-class strategic procurement and contract advice
• Full end-to-end procurement services, from strategy and planning through to tendering, evaluation, negotiation and award
• Procurement and commercial support across Healthcare, MoD, aviation, rail and digital procurement programmes

The wider team includes specialists in procurement and contract strategy, claims management and dispute resolution services, enabling you to offer clients an integrated commercial and contract advisory solution.

There will be opportunities to travel both nationally and internationally to service and manage key commissions for the consultancy’s blue-chip client portfolio.

A highly competitive salary of £65,000 – £90,000 DOE is on offer, alongside a strong benefits package commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities and Duties

Some of the key responsibilities and duties of this Associate Director – Procurement role will include:

• Leading and working collaboratively with a team to deliver comprehensive end-to-end procurement services for major projects and programmes.
• Contributing to and driving the growth and profile of the Contract Services team’s procurement offering.
• Leading the achievement of team and wider business objectives, including financial and operational targets.
• Assisting with and often leading bid preparation and proposal development, strengthening the Contract Services team’s work-winning capability.
• Developing and implementing procurement and commercial strategies from initial planning through to contract award.
• Preparing tender and contract documentation and overseeing the tender process through to successful contract award.
• Providing senior-level advice on procurement routes, procedures and compliance across public and private sector clients.
• Advising clients on procurement strategy and delivery across Healthcare, MoD, aviation, rail and digital procurement environments.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting more junior team members to develop their skills and progress their careers.

Desired Skills and Experience

The ideal Associate Director – Procurement candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven ability to develop and implement robust procurement strategies within project and programme environments.
• Strong procurement experience across Healthcare, MoD, aviation, rail and digital procurement.
• Experience in leading and supporting strategic procurement projects, ensuring efficiency, compliance and best practice.
• Extensive background in tender preparation, including designing procurement processes and drafting key documentation tailored to different sectors.
• Experience of public sector, regulated or complex procurement environments, ideally including healthcare, defence, transport, aviation, rail, digital or major infrastructure clients.
• Strong understanding of digital procurement, technology-led procurement transformation, procurement systems or digitally enabled procurement processes.
• Strong understanding of commercial principles and financial and commercial modelling to support procurement decisions.
• Expertise in delivering procurement strategies and developing comprehensive documentation on capital projects, major programmes or complex service-based procurement environments.
• Skilled supplier and market engagement, managing interactions from initial market testing through to negotiation and contract award.
• Cross-sector experience with Public and/or Utilities Contract Regulations or equivalent procurement frameworks.
• Proficiency in the use of standard form contracts, particularly NEC and JCT, including contract drafting, negotiation and award.
• Experience of supporting, managing and developing a team of procurement consultants.
• Evidence of business generation activity, including bid development, client relationship management and contributing to pipeline growth.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A BSc or equivalent in quantity surveying, civil engineering, law, procurement, construction, infrastructure, commercial management or another relevant discipline.
• Ideally CIPS qualified, MCIPS or actively working towards CIPS or an equivalent professional procurement qualification.

Employing Company Overview and Profile

The successful Associate Director – Procurement will be joining a leading global consultancy with an entrepreneurial and rapidly growing Contract Services team. The clear intention is to invest in and develop the right person, offering a genuine opportunity to progress further at senior level and build a long-term career in strategic procurement and contract advisory work.

Development will be supported through exposure to large-scale, complex projects; structured mentoring and coaching; targeted procurement and commercial training; and the opportunity to act as a trusted expert to blue-chip clients.

The consultancy actively promotes a hybrid method of working to support a healthy work–life balance, recognising the day-to-day demands and commitments that life brings.

The team is committed to delivering best practice in procurement. As such, individuals are encouraged and supported to achieve MCIPS status or equivalent and to undertake regular professional development to enhance their skills, knowledge and market standing.

Further opportunities are available to travel both nationally and internationally to service and manage key commissions for the firm’s blue-chip client portfolio.

Full details of this leading global consultancy will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary: £65,000 – £90,000 DOE
• Car allowance
• Hybrid working
• 35 days’ holiday inclusive of 8 public holidays
• Health insurance
• Medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Pension