Senior Procurement Manager – IT / Digital

Contract Length: 6 months

Location: Warwick or Wokingham (1-2 days on site)

Pay Rate: £750 per day via umbrella (Inside IR35)

Lead high-value technology procurement at scale – shaping strategy, influencing CIO-level decisions, and delivering real impact from day one.

About the Opportunity

This is a senior interim leadership role within a highly regulated, nationally significant organisation operating at the forefront of digital and infrastructure transformation.

You'll take ownership of IT and digital procurement across a complex, high-value environment – covering software, cloud, telecoms, and critical infrastructure technologies. Working closely with the CIO and senior leadership team, you'll play a key role in enabling large-scale digital initiatives through commercially sound, compliant sourcing strategies.

This is a visible, business-critical position where your expertise will directly influence major investment decisions and long-term technology direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement strategy across IT and digital categories, including software, cloud, and infrastructure
• Oversee complex sourcing programmes, including frameworks, tenders, and regulated procurement processes
• Develop and deliver a clear software sourcing strategy as a key project within the assignment
• Partner with CIO-level stakeholders, aligning procurement with technology roadmaps and business priorities
• Manage supplier negotiations and drive commercial outcomes across new and existing vendor relationships
• Provide governance and assurance, ensuring all procurement activity meets regulatory and compliance standards
• Lead, mentor, and coordinate a blended team of internal resources and external service providers
• Act as the key interface between procurement, legal, finance, and vendor management functions

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Deep experience in IT / technology procurement (software, cloud, telecoms, infrastructure)
• Proven track record leading complex sourcing activity (frameworks, tenders, regulated procurement)
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging CIO and senior executive-level stakeholders
• Demonstrable leadership capability, managing teams and cross-functional delivery
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation expertise
• Solid understanding of procurement governance and compliance frameworks (e.g. Procurement Act 2023)
• Ability to operate with confidence and credibility in a senior leadership environment

Desirable

• Experience within public sector, regulated, or critical infrastructure environments
• Exposure to digital transformation or large-scale technology programmes
• Experience working with managed service provider models
• Strong understanding of IT supplier markets and sourcing strategies

Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 48 hours, unfortunately, your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we may retain your details for any future suitable vacancies and contact you accordingly.

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.