Senior Procurement Risk & Assurance Manager

About the role

A high-profile position within a Commercial & Procurement function, based in Milton Keynes with hybrid working, offering flexible location. The role provides independent assurance across major procurement and supplier management activities, ensuring robust governance, commercial compliance and effective risk management. It covers some of the largest and most complex procurement programmes in the UK, with contracts and sourcing activities worth billions of pounds.

Key responsibilities

• Lead assurance reviews of procurement, sourcing and supplier management activities across the organisation
• Provide independent challenge and oversight on procurement strategies, contract awards and commercial decisions
• Work within a risk-based assurance framework, ensuring compliance with policies, governance requirements and legislation
• Review high-value, high-risk programmes and recommend improvements
• Engage with senior stakeholders and leadership teams, delivering constructive challenge
• Review commercial activity against financial, contractual, regulatory and reputational risk
• Plan and coordinate assurance by external subject matter experts where needed
• Contribute to stronger procurement governance, audit, review and assurance reporting
• Deliver training and coaching to procurement professionals and promote best practice in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management

Required profile

• Significant experience in procurement, commercial management or supplier management
• Experience reviewing, challenging and assuring procurement activity, not just delivering projects
• Experience supporting or leading assurance, audit, compliance or peer review activities
• Strong commercial judgement and stakeholder management at senior level
• Desirable: public sector or regulated industry experience, supplier risk knowledge, large organisation experience, and qualifications such as MCIPS, IACCM/WorldCC, PRINCE2 or audit/risk qualifications

Required skills

• Understanding of procurement governance, risk management and assurance frameworks
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills
• Ability to assess strategic, financial and reputational risks

What we offer

• Salary of 71,000 to 86,000 plus a performance-related bonus of up to 20%
• Flexible hybrid working
• Pension and wider benefits package, including discounted rail travel