Procurement Associate

Role Overview

The Procurement Officer coordinates the purchasing, supplier administration and stock control that keep daily operations running smoothly. Working with teams across the organisation, this role secures goods and services at appropriate value, maintains reliable procurement records, and ensures supplies, contracts and assets are properly tracked.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and assess suppliers, negotiate pricing and contract terms, monitor service quality, and follow up on delivery or invoice issues.
• Collect and maintain supplier ethical declarations, KYC documents and contract terms, keeping vendor information current in the ERP system.
• Coordinate requisition approvals and purchase orders with relevant stakeholders, track orders through delivery, and confirm that services have been provided before processing invoices.
• Maintain adequate stocks of workplace toiletries and breakfast items; work with Marketing, Space and People teams to forecast demand, review inventory and investigate discrepancies.
• Review purchasing costs and market conditions, manage expenditure against budgets, and report on supplier performance, savings and procurement trends.
• Check that purchasing records and practices meet internal policies, legal requirements and ethical standards; identify supply risks and coordinate timely insurance renewals with the Space and People team.
• Support staff training on procurement procedures, including onboarding and twice-yearly refreshers, and help improve ERP workflows and the allocation of shared requisition licences.
• Coordinate asset checks with Student Support, Facilities and Accounts: arrange quarterly laptop counts, twice-yearly furniture and fittings counts, ensure items are labelled, and reconcile physical records with the ERP.
• Arrange staff travel and accommodation in line with the travel policy, and collaborate with Finance, Operations and Marketing to meet purchasing needs.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Two to four years of procurement experience.
• Experience using ERP systems; familiarity with maintaining vendor and purchasing records is valuable.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship-building skills, with sound judgement around cost, service quality and risk.
• Good time management and organisation, with the ability to work independently and manage several requests at once.
• Adaptability, a learning-oriented approach, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-moving environment.
• A background in accounting or finance is preferred. CIPS or CPSM certification is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for supplier meetings or industry events.