Head of Procurement

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Procurement professional to shape the National Trust approach to procurement across the organisation and ensure operational readiness to deliver value as we head into our exciting new Strategy period. 

This is a fixed term role (minimum 6 months) for you to provide technical discipline leadership, heading up a team of 9 specialists, influencing and engaging senior stakeholders as you seek to unlock opportunities to embed sustainable best practice in the buying goods and services.

Reporting into the Director of Finance this role is to strengthen leadership in procurement as we prepare for our new 10 year strategy period whilst managing through a short-term unplanned staff absence. The Procurement team is based in multiple locations supporting devolved operational and central directorate teams across England, Wales and Northern Ireland through a combination of remote working and on-site presence. Some travel is expected in response to business needs. 

Whilst your contractual location will be our head office in Swindon, we offer hybrid working and flexibility on where you are based at other times. Working arrangements will be discussed in more detail at interview

With annual expenditure of £800m, 50% being the purchase of goods and services from suppliers, you will lead for a culture where every pound is spent well and contributes to our charitable purpose. You will ensure that a coherent and well understood framework is in place to support procurement activities across the organisation, including a clear vision supported by appropriate policies, processes, training and tools. 

You'll shape the National Trust’s response to environmental and responsible supply demands embedded in our new Strategy, including Net Zero objectives and Modern slavery legislative compliance. You'll lead for the professional standards needed both within the specialist Procurement team and more widely across the buying and supplier contracting communities, ensuring an agile and timely response to changing requirements with appropriate prioritisation of resources and specialist support on the more complex procurement arrangements. 

You'll ensure sufficient monitoring and reporting is in place for the management of compliance with policies and procedures, along with measurement of success against agreed Procurement objectives.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached, this is just to provide a full picture of what is possible in this role, we’d love to hear from you if you have

• A valid qualification and membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, or equivalent experience
• Experience of embedding the procurement strategy into an organisation and aligning it to organisational strategy
• A proven background of leading a high performing procurement specialist team
• A thorough understanding of procurement strategy, concepts, practices, governance and techniques
• Experience of delivering advisory or consulting activities (either external or internal) which identify opportunities for enhancing procurement performance, influence senior stakeholders to gain support for your recommendations and successfully implement change

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Tax-free childcare scheme

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.