Assistant Director, Procurement Specialist

Birmingham City Council
Up to £110K
Hackney

Birmingham is a city transforming at pace. As Europe’s largest local authority, the decisions we make impact more than one million residents and thousands of businesses every day. As we continue our recovery and transformation journey, we are reimagining how commercial and procurement services support the delivery of better outcomes for the city.

With annual third-party expenditure exceeding £1.7bn, procurement has a critical role to play in securing value for money, driving innovation, managing risk and delivering wider social, economic and environmental benefits for Birmingham’s communities. As part of a major five-year transformation programme, we have established an ambitious Future Target Operating Model designed to create a flagship commercial and procurement service for local government.

THE ROLE

In this new role, reporting to the Director of Commercial and Procurement, you will lead Birmingham’s procurement function through a period of significant change and opportunity. You will shape and deliver our procurement strategy, implement the new operating model and ensure the council maximises the value and impact of its substantial third-party spend.

Leading teams across strategic category management, sourcing, frameworks and major procurement programmes, you will build a high-performing, professional service that supports organisational transformation and delivers excellent outcomes for residents. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members and partners, you will provide expert strategic advice while embedding best practice, innovation and compliance across the organisation.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of procurement in one of the UK’s largest and most complex organisations, and to play a leading role in Birmingham’s wider transformation journey.

INFORMATION

For further details, please click on the role profile and useful links below, or for more information please contact Tom Ripley on 07701 217 520 or tom.ripley@starfishsearch.com

Role Profile    
Timeline

Closing Date: 4th October 2026

Long List Meeting: 9th October 2026

Technical Interviews: w/c 19th October 2026

Final Interviews: w/c 2nd November 2026

How to apply

To make an application, please click on the apply now button below, with the following prepared:

  • Your CV (no more than three sides of A4).
  • A supporting statement (no more than three sides of A4) that sets out why you think this role is the right move for you and how you meet the knowledge and experience criteria.

If our client is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you would like to apply under the scheme, please state that clearly at the top of your supporting statement, along with any adjustments you require to be made if invited for interview.

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