Procurement Team Lead

As Procurement Team Lead, you will be responsible for leading and developing the Procurement team while delivering strategic and operational procurement support across the Scottish operation. Reporting to the Head of Procurement and Supplier Sustainability – Scottish Operation, you will drive procurement excellence through effective supplier management, contract negotiation, spend analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role plays a key part in ensuring procurement activities are compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives, while fostering strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders, including the negotiation of contracts and agreements which balances quality of service and value for money

• Analyse data driven from the Purchase to Pay (P2P) system to identify opportunities for cost savings, process efficiencies and achieve procurement synergies across the Scottish Operation

• Ensure all procurement activity and contractual arrangements comply with the Company’s statutory obligations, health and safety legislation and the relevant internal policies and governance standards

• Coordinate and facilitate regular team meetings and training sessions to review workload allocation, monitor performance, and identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency

• Adopt a continuous improvement approach for the Procurement service provided to the Scottish Operation and actively identify and implement opportunities to enhance service delivery and procurement performance

• Support the development of the Procurement team by identifying training needs and ensuring appropriate learning and development opportunities are in place to build capability and ensure effective job performance

• Provide proactive support to the Head of Procurement and Supplier Sustainability – Scottish Operation, contributing to strategic initiatives, cross-functional projects, and acting as deputy when required

What we're looking for:

We are looking for a proactive and collaborative leader who is passionate about delivering an effective procurement service and driving continuous improvement. You will be committed to developing your team, building strong working relationships, and balancing strategic priorities with operational delivery.

This role requires regular travel to other Scottish ports, with occasional travel to Tilbury and other UK locations as required. A full UK driving licence is essential.

The role requires office presence five days per week during the initial onboarding period, with the flexibility to work remotely for up to two days per week once fully established in the role.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience operating at Category Lead level within a procurement or supply chain environment

• Ideally will be CIPS qualified or actively working towards CIPS certification

• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience, with responsibility for guiding, developing, and managing team performance

• Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to analyse complex information and make sound, timely judgements

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and negotiate effectively at all levels

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior and executive management.

• Highly proficient IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel and Word, with the ability to analyse and present data effectively

• Experience working with Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) systems and associated procurement processes

• Full driving licence, valid in the UK to travel between Scottish ports

• Full UK working rights

What Forth Ports can offer you

At Forth Ports, our people are our priority, and we are committed to creating a flexible, open, and supportive working culture. As part of our team, you will enjoy

• A competitive salary

• Discretionary bonus

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 16.5% joint contribution plus life assurance at 4x salary

• In‑house Occupational Health — Provides professional workplace health advice, support, and guidance for employees across all sites

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — Delivered through Health Assured, offering 24/7, 365‑day confidential wellbeing support via the Wisdom app or telephone access, covering mental health, financial advice, legal guidance, and emotional wellbeing

• Physiotherapy Support — Access to physiotherapy sessions through three external providers in Scotland, plus an onsite physiotherapist once per week in Tilbury

• An annual Christmas thank you gift of a complimentary turkey or meat-free alternative for all employees

• GymFlex health club memberships offering discounted access to gyms including Nuffield Health, PureGym, Anytime Fitness, The Gym Group, and selected local gyms

• Cycle to Work scheme to support affordable, sustainable commuting

• On-site free parking available for all employees

• Attractive family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity cover

• Employee discount platform providing savings on UK-wide restaurants, retail, car rentals, days out, and holidays 

We value diversity and inclusivity, and we are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service.

We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military spouses/partners, and we actively support flexible and inclusive recruitment practices.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV and a cover letter when submitting your application via the ‘Apply Now’ link.