Procurement Manager

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

To provide truly outstanding client service we work as one team.  Our Business Operations Group is made up of business professionals who work with our legal professionals to provide market leading expertise to our clients.  The Groups include; Finance, Operations, HR, Clients & Markets, IT, Risk and the Executive Leadership team.

Our Finance team is made up of over 40 people who work from a variety of our office locations. The work is split into four core areas; Financial Accounting, Financial Operations, Business Partnering and Partner Services.

The team work closely with our other business operations teams to provide a first class service. They are responsible for the sound financial management of the firm, including cash flow, budgeting, internal and external reporting and audit. They have responsibilities for the safe-keeping and operating of our clients’ funds held on account and also deal with payroll, credit control ‘Work In Progress’, partner finances and tax returns. The team also provide bespoke finance business partnering support to all other areas of the business.

The role:

We are looking for a Procurement Manager to join our Birmingham-based Finance Team, part of the firm’s Business Operations group. 

You will work with the ‘Heads of’ within Business Operations to secure best value for all our areas of expenditure. 

This will involve sourcing equipment, goods and services to the specifications required; leading tender processes where needed, negotiating contracts and monitoring ongoing service and spend.

You will also provide an ongoing review of our expenditure, reviewing the market place and making recommendations as necessary to improve price, products and service.

Your key duties will be:

• developing, leading and executing purchasing strategies
• researching potential vendors
• comparing and evaluating offers from suppliers
• negotiating contract terms of agreement and pricing
• developing and monitoring appropriate SLA’s with key suppliers
• tracking orders and ensuring timely delivery
• reviewing the quality of purchased products
• tracking and reporting key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness
• crafting negotiation strategies and closing deals with optimal terms
• partnering with stakeholders to ensure clear requirements documentation
• forecasting price and market trends to identify changes of balance in buyer-supplier power
• performing cost and scenario analysis, as well as benchmarking
• assessing, managing and mitigating risks
• seeking and partnering with reliable vendors and suppliers
• monitoring and forecasting upcoming levels of demand
• preparing reports on purchases, including cost analysis
• attending trade shows and exhibitions to stay up-to-date with industry trends

Skills and experience you will have:

• a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a procurement manager role
• previous experience in a professional services environment would be preferable, but not essential
• a good knowledge of vendor sourcing practices (researching, evaluating and liaising with vendors)
• a sound understanding of supply chain procedures
• familiarity with sourcing and vendor management

Key competencies you will need:

• solid analytical skills, with the ability to create financial reports and conduct cost analysis
• negotiation skills
• an interest in market dynamics along with business sense
• the ability to network on behalf of the firm confidently and effectively
• a solid judgement along with decision making skills

About you – you will be:

• highly enthusiastic, willing to the extra mile and be happy to go beyond the job description
• respectful towards others and have a positive, willing and ‘can do’ attitude
• keen to learn, interested in driving your own career progression and be proactive in taking ownership of this

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.