Are you a strategic, commercially astute, innovative leader who is a solution-focused thinker with a passion for procurement? Do you have the expertise to lead a proactive, modern procurement team and drive value for money through robust buying and procurement practices? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Commissioning and Procurement Hub as the Head of Buying & Strategic Procurement.
Our Commissioning and Procurement Hub is now established within the Council and is responsible for shaping the marketplace, driving efficiencies, enabling innovation and developing and delivering our procurement strategy to ensure compliance with PA23 and maximise the value of the Buckinghamshire public pound. The co-location of Commissioning and Procurement expertise within the hub has embedded a centre of excellence, operating as a Community of Practice, to maximise our collective resource and realise commercial opportunities.
This is a unique opportunity for the right individual to lead a modern procurement function within an established and stable Local Authority. Buckinghamshire Council was formed as a single unitary in 2020, serving a population of over 550,000 residents and with a gross budget of over £1.2 billion.
Salary: Up to 85,000 per annum.
Buckinghamshire Council is a modern, ambitious unitary authority, bringing together the strengths, expertise and local knowledge of the county’s former five councils to create positive change for residents, communities and businesses. Since becoming a single council, we have focused on delivering better services, stronger local representation and improved outcomes for the people of Buckinghamshire.
As a well-established authority that successfully completed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) several years ago, we offer the stability, clarity and long-term strategic focus that many councils are currently working towards. This strong foundation enables us to concentrate on the future—driving innovation, delivering high-quality services and making a real difference to our communities—while providing a supportive and forward-thinking environment for our employees.
With a clear vision for Buckinghamshire’s future, we are committed to serving residents better, championing the county’s interests both locally and nationally, and creating opportunities for our people, partners and communities to thrive.
As the Head of Buying & Strategic Procurement, you will be responsible for developing and leading the council’s strategic procurement service. You will shape our commercial strategy across a broad range of categories and services, ensuring that buying and procurement practices maximise value for money and grasp opportunities to improve these.
Leading a team of up to fifteen staff, including three direct reports, you’ll be providing specialist professional advice within a local authority environment, working with external providers and ensuring we are compliant as an organisation. Your role will involve ensuring effective use of the council’s third-party expenditure, identifying and achieving savings, and delivering excellent value for money through innovative buying and procurement practices.
Some of the key responsibilities include:
Any-Desk:
As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.
You will be a dynamic and driven individual joining the service at a critical and exciting period. We are seeking an experienced procurement and buying leader who combines commercial expertise with strategic vision, exceptional knowledge of procurement legislation and the ability to lead a team to deliver for a large organisation.
You will have:
As we look to expand our service offering and drive continuous improvement, you will have an opportunity to contribute and shape our future.
For more information on the role please reach out to Matthew Everitt at matthew.everitt@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 28th July 2026.
Interviews: TBC
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.
Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.
Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.
https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/
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