Client Procurement Manager

Do you have the interpersonal skills and proven commercial acumen to deliver industry leading client procurement services across HR and Learning & Development (L&D) related procurement solutions for private & public sector clients?

If you can work with internal stakeholders & external customers to challenge the status quo and bring about change through creating & delivering innovative solutions to deliver cost savings and process improvement & efficiencies whilst putting the Customer first, then this is the role for you.

Working closely with the Head of Customer Procurement in a small client facing procurement team, as Client Procurement Manager you have responsibility to:

• Deliver high quality and competitive Learning and Development solutions for our clients.
• Ensure internal and external customers and suppliers are delighted and all KPIs and SLAs are met or exceed and all Bids, Catalogues and feedback is presented.
• Support the delivery of business initiatives by providing subject matter expertise in the support of client facing teams.
• Support the development of Procurement Officers (title to be potentially reviewed) with a focus on specialist areas including coaching and mentoring.
• Support the knowledge development of the learning market for Client facing teams via direct training and facilitation of Supplier engagement workshops.
• Develop client specific programmes to drive efficiencies, running Demand Management, Process Improvement and Value Improvement initiatives.
• Inform the pipeline of procurement needs for Supplier Management to complete.
• Set procurement savings / improvement targets with client Procurement.
• Establish pipeline plans for client Procurement to show how targets will be met.
• Influence Client Procurement to use standard, best practice processes rather than developing their own bespoke requirements.
• Contribute in the delivery of client savings in line with expectations / targets.
• Ensure customer expectations are met and/or exceeded as tracked via Satisfaction survey results.
• Work in collaboration with client procurement teams to ensure a high quality of service and act as a point of escalation for clients.
• Support in taking ownership for the learning and development of peers within the client facing teams, enabling them to manage RFX responses, client procurement visibility and opportunity identification.
• Develop strong partnership relationships with key Client Procurement teams.
• Support in the development of Client specific insight reports, including category strategies to impact spend.
• Support the Head of Customer Procurement in the creation a client perception of procurement as a value-added service through increase of strategic input as measured by NPS.
• Ensure that client escalations, audits, complaints and requests are managed professionally and effectively.

The ideal candidate will be/have:

• Strong procurement experience
• Experience of managing difficult conversations and negotiations
• Influencing peers & line managers across the business
• Experience within a customer service environment
• Experience of effective management of multiple customer requirements in a procurement sector
• High transaction volume service business with multiple Supplier relationships and commercial models
• Proven proficiency in prioritising critical customer issues and managing workflow.
• Ability to understand and act on the key metrics and business drivers
• Strong commercial acumen
• Full Driving License with business travel required to perform the role

This is very client focussed role and a great opportunity to be part of and influence transformation and change across HR & Learning Services customer procurement. You will help support and build best in class capabilities, processes and solutions for your clients - building robust relationships and innovative solutions in a cost savings targeted environment. You can be based out of our client's offices in either Reading or Birmingham - business travel required.

To register your interest in this, or any other opportunities please forward your full CV, stating your location and current salary details or contact us on for a confidential conversation.

GPA Procurement (UK) Limited (GPA) acts as an employment business and an employment agency. GPA is committed to equal opportunity and diversity.