Head of Procurement, PMO, and Governance (O912983)

Overview

Our Client are a leading communications brand with an outstanding reputation for customer service and value commitment. An opportunity has now arisen within their team for a Head of Procurement, PMO and Governance.

In this role you will lead the procurement, project management and governance capabilities, securing sustainable commercial value, disciplined investment decisions and effective oversight of the company's project portfolio. Further, you will set strategy and standards, advise the CFO and Executive team, and ensure material supplier, delivery and governance risks are visible and managed.

Reporting to the CFO and directly managing the Procurement Manager and PMO Manager, who lead day-to-day activity in their respective functions.

Specific duties for the Head of Procurement, PMO and Governance will include:

STRATEGY, LEADERSHIP AND VALUE

• Develop and maintain an integrated procurement, project management and governance strategy aligned with the business plan, financial priorities, risk appetite, technology roadmap and Group requirements
• Translate strategy into annual priorities, measurable plans and performance indicators for procurement and the PMO; review progress, remove barriers and escalate decisions required from the CFO or Executive team
• Provide the CFO and Executive team with clear advice, options and recommendations on commercial value, portfolio priorities, delivery confidence, governance risks and required interventions
• Identify and track opportunities to reduce or avoid cost, improve supplier and project outcomes, and increase the value realised from the company's investment
• Lead and develop the Procurement Manager and PMO Manager, agreeing objectives, performance measures and clear accountability; build capability, resilience and effective collaboration across the functions

PROCUREMENT AND COMMERCIAL OVERSIGHT

• Set proportionate procurement policy, category priorities and commercial standards; ensure sourcing and contract decisions follow delegated authority and Group requirements
• Oversee the sourcing pipeline and material procurements, ensuring effective demand challenge, competition, evaluation, due diligence, negotiation and approval
• Oversee supplier segmentation, due diligence and third-party risk arrangements, including financial viability, concentration, information security, data protection, business continuity, subcontracting, ethics and sustainability
• Oversee property portfolio management across the Group, including leases, licences, acquisitions, disposals, rent reviews, renewals and landlord relationships, ensuring cost-effective use of the estate, clear contractual obligations and alignment with operational requirements
• Ensure effective contract lifecycle management, including ownership, obligations, service levels, price reviews, renewal and notice dates, changes, termination rights and exit planning
• Provide senior oversight of strategic suppliers and contracts, including performance, renewals, disputes and exit decisions; ensure terms protect value, service, resilience and operational needs
• Maintain oversight of procurement value, spend, commitments, renewals and supplier risk, including financial viability, concentration, security, data protection, continuity and sustainability; validate reported benefits
• Oversee warehouse and inventory governance, ensuring effective stock controls, secure storage, accurate records and alignment with operational and project requirements

PROJECT AND PORTFOLIO GOVERNANCE

• Set and maintain the project governance framework, standards and assurance, applying controls in proportion to project size, complexity and risk
• Oversee Capital Review Board (CRB) and Annual Capital Allocation List (ACAL) processes to support disciplined prioritisation and approval of investment against strategy, affordability, expected benefits and delivery capacity
• Maintain a clear portfolio view of project status, cost and schedule, risks, issues, dependencies, resource demand and decisions required; provide assurance on material projects and escalate concerns with recommended action
• Ensure business cases, changes and project closure address scope, costs, risks, resources, accountable owners and benefits; track outcomes and apply lessons learned
• Constructively challenge sponsors and project managers. Sponsors and assigned project managers remain accountable for delivery unless the Head is specifically assigned a delivery role

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ASSURANCE

• Support the CFO in maintaining effective governance across Group entities, including relevant Board and committee planning, reporting and action follow-up where delegated
• Maintain proportionate policies and controls for procurement, project governance and other assigned areas; monitor compliance with delegated authority, Group standards and relevant regulatory or licence requirements
• Ensure material exceptions, conflicts, control weaknesses and risks are recorded, escalated and addressed by accountable owners; support clear communication of performance against strategic objectives to Boards, Group and leadership
• Oversee the Group's insurance requirements with Finance and relevant stakeholders, ensuring appropriate cover, timely renewals and effective management of claims and material uninsured risks

REPORTING, STAKEHOLDERS MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT

• Provide concise, reliable and regular reporting to the CFO and governance forums on procurement value and risk, supplier performance, capital allocation, portfolio delivery, benefits and decisions required
• Build effective relationships with business leaders, budget holders, Group functions, Boards, regulators and key suppliers; work across Finance, Legal, Technology, Information Security, Data Protection and Operations
• Improve processes, systems and management information; use automation and AI responsibly where they improve quality, transparency or efficiency

The ideal candidate for the role of Head of Procurement, PMO and Governance will have:

• Significant senior experience in procurement, project or portfolio governance, corporate governance, property portfolio management or a combination of these areas, with a record of leading managers or functional capability
• Strong commercial and financial skills, including sourcing, supplier negotiation, cost and business-case analysis, investment prioritisation and benefits tracking
• Experience overseeing a project portfolio and applying governance, assurance, risk, change control, resource planning and senior reporting
• Sound understanding of supplier, contract and third-party risk management, delegated authority and internal controls
• Experience advising senior leaders or governance forums and producing clear analysis, recommendations and decision materials
• Strong leadership, influencing and communication skills, with the judgement to challenge constructively and manage competing priorities
• Confident use of Microsoft 365 and relevant procurement, contract, ERP or project/portfolio systems

Desirable

• Experience in telecommunications, technology, infrastructure or another regulated, asset-intensive environment
• Relevant qualification such as CIPS, APM, PRINCE2, PMP, MSP or an equivalent governance or commercial qualification
• Experience across multiple jurisdictions or Group and matrix governance arrangements; familiarity with dashboards and workflow automation