Procurement Director

The Lightspeed Experience: Rewarding experience. Meaningful outcomes. Making a difference in people's lives. That's what motivates us. Embrace diversity. Celebrate inclusion. Champion ideas. From across the table to around the UK, our path to innovation comes from our desire to deliver and outstanding people.

Who we are? We are a start-up gigabit internet network providing ultrafast connectivity to homes and business across the east of England. Although a start-up we are well funded and led by a highly experienced team telecoms professionals located in Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Job Title: Procurement Director

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The role of Procurement Director will focus on the key and wide ranging strategic spend areas of network rollout (civils, hardware, software), network operations, support and maintenance services and expansion and development of the ISP (including consumer equipment and installations), with an external spend of over £80m per annum.

You will need to be very comfortable working with senior stakeholders across the business and you will have a collaborative but challenger mentality. You will be working closely with senior leadership and your influence will extend beyond a purely procurement remit, to providing strategic advice and input to drive better outcomes for the Lightspeed business.

The role is responsible for managing the end to end procurement process. This will include negotiating with 3rd party suppliers, managing the senior vendor relationships, working with business units to understand the specific demand for products and services, planning the purchasing activities, drafting and implementing the relevant contracts in collaboration with the legal team and ensuring that all fulfilment is carried out in line with the legal and regulatory requirements.

Strategy and Development:

Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practice procurement vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance

General and Task Management:

• Ensure that purchasing policies and processes are in place to meet Lightspeed’s business objectives and operational needs in terms of price, quality and delivery targets and which enables the company to function and compete effectively in the market
• Create and review opportunities to implement best practice purchasing policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve business performance and deliver best value and business savings
• Evaluate the challenges faced by the business and take action to mitigate risks and develop opportunities for reducing costs
• Actively minimise operating and capital costs through improved use of tools and processes. This will be achieved through a combination of influencing stakeholders and robust planning
• Develop creative and innovative procurement processes (eProcurement)
• Provide management reports and key performance data and monitor cost savings
• Manage relationships with suppliers and select and develop new suppliers
• Negotiate and manage contract terms with suppliers to ensure value for money, quality standards and delivery terms with technical and operational input from stakeholders and colleagues
• Review and negotiate existing agreements to optimise commercial terms
• Assess tenders from potential suppliers
• Ensure professional and consistent supplier management is applied across the supply base in line with the purchasing policy
• Ensure that the function operates in accordance with any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors

People Management:

• Manage, coach and develop high performing purchasing and cost estimating teams that meet agreed objectives and which deliver best practice results, added value and continuous improvements
• Set departmental objectives/KPIs and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports
• Report on achievement of targets and identify any actions required
• Proactively contribute to creating a good team atmosphere
• Ensure that the function operates in accordance with all health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of self, staff and visitors

Financial Budget and Control:

· Input to and hold responsibility for department budget

Relationship Management:

• Work with senior technology stakeholders to provide contractual guidance, sourcing options and support, project delivery and supplier relationship management
• Communicate with stakeholders the impact of market change and potential effects on supply. Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimising cost
• Stay current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products, services and materials and advise others of any impact
• Assist Senior Management in ensuring effective relationships with business partners and key suppliers through maintaining an appropriate interface between procurement and suppliers
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on Procurement activities

Skills and Attributes:

• Proven management skills with the ability to optimise team performance and development
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to engage, negotiate and manage key stakeholders and suppliers
• Strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Strong analytical skills and problem solving abilities
• Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines
• Commercially and financially aware with experience of managing budgets
• Dispute management experience; in particular, experience managing disagreements within a contract that may need arbitration or escalation to regulatory authority
• Understands regulatory & Ofcom interactions
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy
• Anticipates and overcomes obstacles
• Takes ownership for team cohesion and development
• Is resilient, optimistic and open to change
• Self-motivated and able to work well under pressure

Qualifications and Experience Levels:

• Procurement experience across management of Infrastructure & Telecoms
• Member of The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
• Ability to add value, reduce costs and make business improvements
• Contract management and supplier experience
• Project management experience
• Computer literate, especially Excel skills

How we reward you

• Competitive salary
• Benefits package
• Remote working flexibility