The Role
Are you a dynamic Procurement leader? A team player with a proven track record in driving positive change within the construction and development category of spend. Then this role is for you!
It`s an important time for procurement at Unite Students. We have been through a significant transformation as a function, and Construction & Development is one of our last remaining areas needing a renewed way of working from procurement. The Head of Category is instrumental in this - a key role in the Procurement Leadership Team, accountable for designing, driving and delivering the procurement strategy for this key area of spend and its relating supply chain, whilst balancing being a true Business Partner that understands our Development team`s needs and interprets these into a quality procurement approach.
The role reports into our Procurement Director, but also has a dotted line into our Development Team, ensuring we`re at the table with this key group of stakeholders, providing professional procurement advice across the Construction and New Development supply chain and making procurement strategy a reality.
What You`ll Be Doing
- Providing professional procurement advice and support across all Construction & Development (C&D) spend, including related professional and technical services and main/sub-contractors.
- Interpreting and providing detailed analysis of both the marketplace and internal factors, to create a long-term category strategy in support of business objectives, our sustainable construction targets and management of risk
- Delivering the procurement strategy for C&D - tendering, negotiating, contracting, fostering supply chain relationships as appropriate to fulfil the strategy and generate both competition and long-term value
- Providing constructive challenge to entrenched practices and spending culture - instilling commercial discipline in all areas of the category and it`s supply chain and bringing about positive change where needed to fulfil our business objectives
- Ensuring fit for purpose contracts and measures of performance are in place - furthermore, working closely with our Development team, our main contractors and the C&D supply chain to ensure optimal supply chain performance is maintained and that risk is managed
- A member of the Procurement Leadership Team, deputising for the Director as needed and leading on initiatives across the wider business for the function. You will be a key player in the continued transformation of this valued function
- Management of a Direct Report - a Procurement Manager based out of Bristol. You foster and develop DRs based on performance and alignment to functional and corporate objectives
- Maintaining excellent customer relationships to enable fast problem solving and `one-team` mentality
What We`re Looking for in You
- A `customer first` mindset - a great team player, with the ability to build relationships and rapport with the wider procurement team and a variety of key stakeholders. You understand our customer`s needs from the supply chain.
- A Procurement expert - whether tendering, negotiation, contracting, sustainable procurement, or fostering supply chain relationships, you can demonstrate extensive expertise in category management and know which levers to pull from procurement processes and when
- Demonstrable delivery of value through the procurement approaches and strategies you have delivered
- An expert negotiator whether with suppliers or stakeholders, you hold a positive and objective ability to influence others, bringing about change in a positive manner
- Commercial intuition - you are able to proactively identify opportunities and unlock the maximum possible benefit
- Great knowledge of the Construction & New Development marketplace, including related technical and engineering services. You understand the complexities of main contractor relationships and their strategic importance to our business
What You`ll Get in Return
- An annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
- 25 days` paid holiday
- Pension - based on how much you save, we`ll contribute 1% more
- Flexible working opportunities
- Shared Parental Leave - 18 weeks full pay for birthing parent, 4 weeks for non-birthing parent
- Other benefits include, ShareSave, Bike to Work, Charity Match, amazing discounts and more!
About Unite Students
Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.
Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.
People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.
Room for Everyone
We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.
We are US.