Head of Procurement

Candidate Opportunity Brief
Position: Head of Procurement
Reporting to: Finance Director
Confidentiality: Open

Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading Executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors:

Rail & Transportation                      
Civils & Construction                       
Manufacturing & Supply Chain      
Technology & Cyber Security         
Logistics & Intermodal Freight        
Defence                         
Our search directors, search consultants and in-house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest level of organisational leadership and management.

Our success is based upon a blend of trust-driven relationships, robust market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the best possible alignment of organisational need with experience and personal ambition.

Working with business leaders on bespoke assignments for over a decade, we understand exactly what our customers expect from an executive search and talent advisory service – whether there is a pressing business need for an executive interim or that of a long-term permanent appointment - Ford & Stanley Executive Search provide the solution.

We have been exclusively appointed by our client company on a retained search for a Head of Procurement.

Below you will find a ‘Candidate Opportunity Brief’ developed from notes taken during the scoping meeting (Situational Discovery) held between the Principal Consultant & Senior Consultant of Ford & Stanley Executive Search and the Finance Director and Head of Strategy at our Client Business.

This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification.

Client Opportunity Statements:

“We are seeking a Head of Procurement to build on recent progress and firmly establish a high‑performing, commercially focused procurement function. Following a successful period of interim leadership, this role provides the opportunity to embed stability, strengthen governance, and elevate maturity across a high‑volume, fast‑paced operational environment.

Reporting to the Finance Director, the Head of Procurement will act as a trusted strategic partner, balancing pace and prioritisation with robust control, compliance, and risk management. The role will introduce more streamlined, commercially astute ways of working, ensuring procurement enables, rather than constrains, the business.

This role will suit a confident, hands‑on procurement leader who thrives on embedding improvement, leading capable teams, and driving tangible commercial impact within a nationally significant business.

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

Stabilise, embed, and further develop the Procurement team, building on recent progress to grow capability, create clarity of purpose, and instil confidence through clear leadership, direction, and accountability.
Strengthen procurement processes and ways of working, improving governance, pace, and effectiveness while introducing more streamlined, commercially astute approaches that enable the business to better leverage opportunity.
Act as a trusted strategic partner to the Finance Director, operating as a key “right‑hand” advisor with responsibility for managing procurement‑related risk, ensuring appropriate controls, and supporting sound decision‑making across the business.
Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

§  MCIPS qualified

§  Proven experience of operating in a highly regulated industry such as Rail, Transportation, Energy, Aerospace, Nuclear.

§  Experience of the full procurement lifecycle, including running tenders, supplier engagement, tender evaluations, contract negotiations, contract management, etc.

§  Robust knowledge of public procurement obligations, audit requirements and governance frameworks. Experience of running procurement tenders under either UCR 2016 or Procurement Act 2023 regulations.

§  Able to challenge ways of working and implement practical improvements to processes, systems and behaviours, whilst maintaining trust and engagement.

§  Able to demonstrate leadership of either a comparable function, successful deputisation for a ‘Head of’ or evidence of leading on similar challenges.

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)

§  Ability to empower and lead a team and function through transformation. 

§  Resilient and able to operate effectively in an agile environment.

§  Inspirational, ability to bring the team on a positive journey of change

§  Strong commercial acumen

§  Gravitas, with the ability to build trust and credibility at all levels.

Working Arrangements & Location:

 Hybrid working available; however, it is expected that the candidates are visible leaders at the West Midlands HQ 3 days a week. 

Search timescale Agreement

Stage

Agreed Date

Situational Discovery (Role Scoping Meeting)

Completed – 6th May 2026

Timescale Agreement & Delivery Plan - Issued to Client

Completed – 8th May 2026

Candidate Opportunity Briefing Document – Client Sign Off

Completed – 11th May 2026

Search ‘Go Live’

11th May 2026

Mid-Search Review / Progress Update Meeting with Client

29th May 2026

Shortlist Presentation & Review Meeting with Client.

12th June 2026

First Stage interviews between Candidates & Client.

15th June 2026

Psychometric Assessment (If applicable)

N/A

Final Stage Interviews between Candidates & Client

WC 22nd June 2026

Decision to offer successful candidate

WC 22nd June 2026

Likely Candidate Start Date

3-month notice – Sept 2026

Mid Notice Engagement Session between Candidate & Client

July 2026

Ford & Stanley Executive Search Pre-Submission Process:

First Engagement: A short engagement and introductory conversation to position the opportunity, gauge the candidate's early interest level, and arrange a time and date for a more detailed discussion. NDA sent (if applicable) upon receipt of signed NDA - Candidate Opportunity Brief shared

Candidate Discovery: An open, conversational and consultative discussion where candidates and the executive search consultant explore and discuss the opportunity brief. Candidates are assessed on their suitability for the role in the context of the key essentials and challenged on how the opportunity lines up with their career aspirations, motivations, financial expectations and personal circumstance. The search consultant will utilise the information captured during candidate discovery to start to build your profile on suitability. Recommendations may be made at this point for adjustments or updates to your CV.

The ‘shortlist’: Shortlisted candidates, having taken time to reflect on the opportunity and undertake subsequent research on the clients business are reengaged where they are asked to provide additional specific information on their suitability (if/where applicable). Final checks of key notes, package details and logistical alignments made. Finishing touches are then made to your profile prior to submission along with our notes and recommendations.
Our Client Business’s Interview Process:

1st Stage interview: Face-to-face interview with the Finance Director and the Head of Strategy.
2nd Stage interview: Face-to-face interview with 2 chosen Head of functions.
Good to know:

The Head of Procurement will be accountable for the mentorship and development of a capable Procurement and Property team, comprised of 12 heads.
The business navigates a deeply regulated procurement environment with long lead times, and therefore, they are looking for someone to bring continuity to the function.
The Head of Procurement is also accountable for property and facilities
There is a continued focus on ensuring all procurement activities meet regulatory and internal governance requirements, including the owning group’s Procurement Policy, Code of Conduct, Procurement Act 2023, and obligations under additional legislation.
There is a significant opportunity to shape and leave a lasting impact on both the function and the wider business. The company is clear about the scale of transformation required and ambitious in what it needs to deliver, with strong senior leadership backing and the necessary tools and support in place to enable success.
A strong, welcoming team feeling is clear, making it obvious the business is all striving for the same outcome and on the same journey.
Energy and pride are in abundance within the team and wider business; the people make it a special and unique place to work.
Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Procurement Leadership

Lead the development and delivery of the Procurement strategy aligned to business objectives and policies, embedding sustainability and ethical practices.
Work to enhance commercial outcomes across all categories of spend, identifying opportunities to secure value and improve contract effectiveness and ensuring benefits are tracked and assured.
Provide advice and guidance on tendering, negotiations, contract management and supplier performance and act as procurement workstream lead for key business-critical projects (including Business Plan Commitments), including attendance at Portfolio Board.
Develop knowledge of key supply markets and suppliers to support effective procurement, sustained performance across outsourced services and the delivery of value for money 
Compliance and Assurance

Ensure all procurement activities meet regulatory and internal governance requirements, including group policy, Code of Conduct, Procurement Act 2023, and obligations under additional legislation with the Secretary of State.
Maintain strong assurance standards, robust audit trails and transparent processes to meet internal, DfT and external audit requirements and support reviews, audits and assurance activity as required.
Maintain and develop targeted monitoring and reporting of key procurement activities and compliance metrics, and ensure financial and operational risks are appropriately escalated, monitored and mitigated. 
Supplier & Contract Management

Understand the company’s supply chain, determine key suppliers and produce supplier relationship plans.
Strengthen supplier performance through robust KPIs, performance monitoring and proactive engagement.
Promote effective, consistent contract management discipline across the company and ensure clear ownership of contract management, performance monitoring and change control.
Property

Direct and support the delivery of facilities and property from initial lease of premises to planned and preventive maintenance for all aspects of the company’s scope of operations.
Maintain statutory, health & safety and compliance standards across the company’s estate. 
Leadership

Lead, support and develop the Procurement and Property team, building capability and talent development, confidence and professional expertise.
Foster collaborative relationships across the business, promoting commercial awareness and stakeholder engagement.
Champion continuous improvement, data quality and best-practice procurement.
Operating in a High-Scrutiny Environment

Navigate complex governance, audit processes and multi‑stakeholder oversight with professionalism and resilience.
Provide concise, evidence‑based insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
Build productive relationships with DfT, parent group and other external bodies.
Budget & Supporting benefits:

Competitive (Please reach out to Emma Barlow for full breakdown of package available)

Executive Search Delivery Team:

Billy Jackson – Principal Consultant: (Client Recommendations/Advisory, Offer Negotiations, Consulting, Networking)
Emma Barlow – Senior Associate: (Network, Research, Search, Interviews, Market intelligence, Longlisting, Shortlisting, Headhunting)
Ralitsa Kuzeva – Executive Assistant: (Data, diary management and coordination)
About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:

Please see supporting appendix: Executive Search Candidate Journey

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.

Services advertised by Ford & Stanley Executive Search are that of an executive search and talent advisory business