Procurement Manager - Substations

About the role

As Procurement Manager, you will provide leadership across an allocated portfolio of substation projects within the Scotland ASTI and T2/3 programmes. You will be reporting to the Senior Procurement Manager, you will be accountable for translating the relevant portfolio and framework strategy into clear procurement plans, leading the team responsible for delivery and ensuring procurement activity is controlled, timely and aligned with project, commercial and client requirements.

The role will lead Senior Buyers, Buyers and Graduates assigned to the portfolio, setting direction, allocating resources, managing performance and building capability. You will act as the senior day-to-day procurement interface for the portfolio, using clear leadership and stakeholder influence to align Operations, Commercial, Design, Planning and project teams around priorities, decisions, risks and routes to market

What you'll be doing

Leadership and people management

• Lead, motivate and develop the Senior Buyers, Buyers and Graduates assigned to the portfolio, creating a clear line of accountability from strategy through to package delivery.
• Set objectives, priorities and standards for the team, monitor delivery against agreed commitments and intervene promptly where performance, capacity or capability requires support.

Portfolio leadership and delivery

• Own procurement performance across the allocated substation portfolio and provide clear direction on priorities, sequencing, risks and opportunities.
• Develop project procurement strategies and package delivery plans across the allocated portfolio, contributing to and influencing wider framework strategy while ensuring effective routes to market and procurement execution.
• Ensure the team engages early with project stakeholders and the supply chain so that procurement assumptions, lead times, capacity constraints and commercial considerations inform project decisions.

Stakeholder leadership and influence

• Act as the senior day-to-day procurement contact for Project Directors, Project Managers, Commercial Managers and Operations leaders across the allocated portfolio.
• Influence project and business decisions through credible procurement advice, market intelligence, commercial awareness and a clear understanding of delivery priorities.
• Create alignment between Procurement, Operations, Commercial, Design and Planning, ensuring that decisions, responsibilities and required actions are understood and owned.
• Represent Procurement at project reviews, governance meetings and client-facing forums within the authority delegated by the Senior Procurement Manager.

Supply chain leadership

• Build effective relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors supporting the portfolio, with a focus on capacity, capability, resilience, performance and pipeline fit.
• Lead early market engagement and supplier development activity to broaden capable supply options and support the future work bank.
• Ensure supplier performance is actively managed by the team, with clear improvement actions, ownership and escalation where commitments are not being achieved.

Governance and commercial control

• Ensure procurement activity complies with business procedures, delegated authorities, client obligations and project governance requirements.
• Provide management oversight of tendering, evaluation, negotiation, recommendation and award activity undertaken by the team, ensuring decisions are evidence-based and appropriately approved.
• Promote strong data quality, procurement schedule discipline, audit readiness and consistent use of required systems and controls.

Who we're looking for

Essential

• Demonstrable procurement leadership experience within construction, infrastructure, utilities, energy or another complex project environment.
• Proven experience of leading, developing and managing procurement professionals at different career stages.
• Experience of managing procurement delivery across multiple projects or a defined portfolio, including competing priorities and complex stakeholder requirements.
• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing, tendering, supplier evaluation, negotiation, contract award and supplier performance management.
• Sound commercial and contractual awareness, with the ability to identify risk, challenge proposals and support informed decision-making.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and build effective working relationships across Procurement, Operations, Commercial and project teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present clear recommendations and concise portfolio reporting.
• Competence in procurement systems, reporting and governance controls, supported by strong analytical and organisational skills

Desirable

• MCIPS qualified, or actively working towards Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.
• A degree or equivalent professional qualification in procurement, supply chain, commercial management, quantity surveying, business, engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience within power transmission and distribution, substations or other regulated infrastructure programmes.
• Knowledge of ASTI, RIIO-T2 or RIIO-T3 delivery environments and associated client governance requirements.
• Working knowledge of NEC forms of contract and the commercial management of subcontract and material packages.
• Experience of leading procurement activity during pre-construction, early contractor involvement or work-winning stages.
• Experience of supply chain capacity planning, supplier relationship management and development of new market entrants

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on‑house maintenance, our in‑house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at

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