- Location
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Department
- Operations
- Seniority
- Director
- Closing date
- Today
Description
Head of Procurement - Works
Application Deadline: 22 November 2026
Department: Commercial
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Milton Keynes
Reporting To: Procurement Director
Description
A little bit about us:
East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.
EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, and is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.
East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.
EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, and is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.
Role Summary:
This is a senior role for an experienced public-sector procurement leader who understands how to deliver complex, high-value procurements within a regulated environment, while balancing commercial outcomes, robust governance, programme objectives and value for taxpayers.
This is a senior role for an experienced public-sector procurement leader who understands how to deliver complex, high-value procurements within a regulated environment, while balancing commercial outcomes, robust governance, programme objectives and value for taxpayers.
You will lead the works procurement team and oversee the end-to-end procurement of major works contracts, from developing procurement strategy and market approach through to tender evaluation, governance and award.
Working closely with senior leaders, commercial strategy, contract management, legal advisers and wider stakeholders, you will ensure our procurement activity is compliant, commercially robust and positioned to deliver successful long-term outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing strategic leadership to the works procurement team, developing capability and driving continuous improvement.
- Owning and managing the pipeline of major commercial and procurement activity.
- Leading procurement strategies for complex construction and infrastructure works.
- Ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, relevant policy notes and organisational governance.
- Overseeing tender documentation, evaluator training and fair, transparent and defensible evaluation processes.
- Providing senior-level commercial governance and assurance, including recommendations through appropriate internal and government approvals.
- Working closely with strategy and contract management colleagues to ensure procurement decisions support programme benefits and effective contract mobilisation and management.
- Providing advice on procurement and commercial risk, engaging legal advisers where appropriate.
- Embedding wider government priorities, including Social Value and Modern Slavery considerations, within procurement strategies.
- Monitoring procurement performance and identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.
- Championing responsible stewardship of taxpayers' money.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
You will be an established procurement leader with significant experience operating in a public-sector or similarly regulated procurement environment.
You will bring:
- Extensive experience delivering complex works and construction procurements
- Strong, practical knowledge of the NEC suite of contracts
- In-depth understanding of UK public procurement legislation and governance
- Experience leading significant tendering, evaluation and assurance processes
- The ability to navigate complex commercial and procurement risk
- Strong executive-level stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Proven experience leading, coaching and developing Procurement professionals
- The ability to manage a demanding portfolio of procurement activity within a fast-paced programme environment
- A professional procurement qualification such as CIPS is highly desirable.
Why East West Rail?
This is an opportunity to take a senior procurement leadership role on a significant infrastructure programme, helping shape how major works are brought to market and ultimately delivered.
This is an opportunity to take a senior procurement leadership role on a significant infrastructure programme, helping shape how major works are brought to market and ultimately delivered.
You will have the opportunity to influence procurement strategy at a senior level, strengthen commercial capability and ensure that major investment delivers value, transparency and positive outcomes for the public.
Benefits
- Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.
Skills
Contract ManagementComplianceProcurement