Procurement Lead

If you are an experienced procurement professional looking for a high-impact role where you can influence outcomes and drive improvement, we would love to hear from you.

Procurement Lead WMF2996e

Location: Barrow, Kendal or Penrith

Contract Type: Fixed term until 31/03/2028

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Procurement Leads to join the Commissioning and Procurement Service within the Resources Directorate. Reporting to the Service Manager – Procurement, you will lead and coordinate procurement activity across the Council’s key categories of spend. These are high-profile roles where you will ensure procurement activity delivers value for money, meets statutory requirements, and supports the Council’s strategic priorities.

These roles have been created to support the delivery of the Council’s Procurement Improvement Programme, helping to strengthen procurement governance, ensure compliance with legislation, and improve consistency and value across our services. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing function, supporting a wide range of procurements and contracts that directly impact frontline services across the Council.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead procurement activity for goods, works and services within your category area
• Provide expert advice and business partnering support to directorates on procurement and contract management
• Manage and support a team delivering procurement activity across the Council
• Develop and maintain a robust procurement pipeline to ensure effective forward planning
• Ensure compliance with public procurement legislation and Council procedures
• Drive value for money, service quality improvements and sustainable outcomes
• Lead stakeholder engagement, influencing and supporting decision making
• Embed social value and carbon reduction within procurement processes
• Act as escalation point for contract and supplier issues

Why This Role Matters

These roles play a critical part in supporting the Council’s financial and transformation objectives, to strengthen compliance with procurement legislation, reduce regulatory risk, deliver the Procurement Improvement Programme, improve service consistency, and maintain service continuity across a complex organisation.

About You

We are looking for innovative and creative individuals with skills, knowledge, and experience in procurement, who want to make a difference. To be successful in the role you must have:

• Degree or relevant professional qualification (CIPS Level 4 or above) or equivalent experience
• Strong knowledge of public procurement regulations
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and business partnering
• Proven ability to build effective partnerships and deliver outcomes across organisations
• Experience applying risk management principles
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Understanding of social value and carbon reduction in procurement
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• The desire and ability to work collaboratively to effect change

These are high-profile roles and will provide you with the opportunity to work alongside a range of people, both within the Council and from other agencies and key stakeholder groups.

What can we offer you!

For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)

Would you like to find out more?

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, then please contact Bev Kent, Service Manager Procurement, ***email_hidden***

Application and Interview information

Closing date: 30/06/2026

Interview date: 15/07/2026