Head of Procurement - Operational Living

Our client provides unique procurement consulting services within the living sector - Build to Rent, Private Rented Sector, and Student Accommodation clients.

This position's primary function is to manage facilitates procurement processes for major institutional and owner/operator clients across PBSA, co-living and BtR sectors. The strategic goal with this role is to source the best able providers to deliver goods and services required by the client at their property or portfolios over a defined term, at a price that is acceptable to the client, with optimal commercial and legal terms acceptable to both parties.

The individual is required to lead a team of employees in the service division. The individual will work to proactively provide procurement, Facilities Maintenance (FM) guidance, and statutory consultancy services for clients.

They will form an integral part of the Operational Consultancy team, reporting directly into the Executive team. This position also offers European travel, and the opportunity to undertake procurement FM services in a variety of markets.

Key Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will be able to lead the team and develop clear objectives, structure a successful procurement process, liaise frequently with client, solve problems and exhibit strong customer service skills.

The candidate will also:

• Develop a clearly defined procurement strategy for Hard and Soft FM programmes with a detailed process and scope for the delivery of desired outcomes.
• Identify clear objectives for each client's procurement project and create evaluation criterion that reflect the objectives.
• Utilise AREA's format to request and collect bids and relevant vendor data for analysis.

• Compare bids and negotiate best pricing while ensuring the scope of services is meeting

• client's needs.

• Work with AREA's Legal consultants to ensure relevant contract documents define the

• correct pricing and services based on tender collections.
• Set and work within clear timescales for the procurement process.
• Assist the team on site visits, client meetings and contractor communication/engagement.
• Assist with other ad-hoc consultancy projects as necessary

• Ability to identify and understand Hard FM building systems requirements within operational real estate properties. Similarly, to understand Soft FM system requirements within operational assets and the nuances for these services across different living sectors.
• Strong understanding of statutory compliance, and strong understanding of the SFG20 maintenance schedule.
• Ability to analyse operating statements and bids to identify trends, ratios and variances.
• Ability to prepare reports, business correspondence, presentations, and proposals.
• Business negotiation experience.
• Ability to build strong relationships both on the client side and the vendor side.
• Read and comprehend contractual terms and conditions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proactive and able to multi-task.
• Strong organisation skills and keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and exercise initiative.
• Great communication & leadership skills.

• A competitive renumeration package will be available to the successful candidate
• Market leading salary
• Competitive discretionary bonus
• Payment of professional subscriptions
• 25 days annual leave (excluding UK Bank Holidays)
• Employers Pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Private Healthcare

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