Jobs

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Procurement will lead the National Trust for Scotland’s procurement and supply-chain activity, ensuring that every pound spent supports our charitable purpose. The role will strengthen commercial control across a complex, multi-site organisation, deliver measurable cost efficiencies, simplify purchasing processes and improve the quality, resilience and sustainability of supply.

• Delivering sustainable reductions in expenditure, cost avoidance and wider organisational value whilst maintaining quality
• Standardising and improving source-to-pay processes and systems
• Strategic sourcing, tendering, contracting and supplier performance
• Governance, compliance, risk management and responsible procurement
• Building procurement capability across properties and central teams

With oversight of more than £40 million of annual non-staff expenditure, the postholder will set procurement strategy, policy and standards; provide clear spend and benefits reporting; and partner with colleagues to challenge demand, aggregate requirements and secure best value. Procurement decisions will balance whole-life cost, quality, risk, conservation, engagement and sustainability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead a trusted, proportionate procurement service that enables colleagues across the National Trust for Scotland to buy well, work efficiently and demonstrate responsible stewardship of charitable funds.
Key responsibilities include:
• Develop and deliver a procurement strategy aligned with the Trust’s corporate strategy, financial plans and conservation purpose.
• Create and maintain a prioritised savings and value pipeline, with clear baselines, owners, delivery dates and Finance-validated benefits.
• Use spend, contract and supplier data to identify demand-management, specification, aggregation, framework and sourcing opportunities.
• Lead strategic sourcing, tendering and negotiation for high-value and high-risk goods, works and services, securing best whole-life value.
• Embed environmental sustainability in sourcing and contract management by considering whole-life carbon, energy and resource use, waste reduction, circular-economy opportunities, biodiversity impacts and credible supplier environmental performance.
• Simplify and standardise end-to-end purchasing, using proportionate controls, clear guidance, automation and self-service where appropriate.
• Improve source-to-pay compliance, spend visibility, contract coverage and management information, including effective use of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Establish category plans and supplier performance frameworks that improve cost, service, quality, resilience and innovation.
• Manage procurement, commercial and supply-chain risk, including business continuity, supplier due diligence and contract expiry planning.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation, funder conditions, Trust policy, delegated authority and responsible procurement commitments, including environmental sustainability and climate objectives.
• Build constructive relationships with budget holders, properties, Finance, Legal, Scottish public bodies, sector partners and strategic suppliers.
• Lead, coach and develop the procurement team and strengthen commercial capability across the Trust.

The current duties of this job do require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out

Application Deadline: Friday 06/11/2026