Location
London Puddle Dock, Blackfriars

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£55,596 - £67,813

About the Role
Join the Southern Region where your work truly matters. Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day. This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail. From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.

Network Rail's assurance function reviews procurement activities and documentation before governance approvals are granted. The ideal candidate will provide independent commercial and procurement assurance across high-value, high-risk, and strategically significant procurements. You will ensure sourcing activities comply with Network Rail governance requirements, procurement legislation, internal standards, and best practice before contracts are awarded.

Key Accountabilities:
- Develop and continually enhance project-specific procurement strategies that complement the National Programme Strategy and maintain security of supply, value for money, and HSQE performance for a range of contracts.
- Perform the full range of procurement and contracting activities including pre-qualification, tender management, negotiation, and preparation of contracts.
- Provide procurement advice on an asset-wide basis relating to specific portfolio issues.
- Support pre-contract procurement of main contractors and, where appropriate, actively influence the procurement of sub-contracting activity by the main contractors.
- Exercise compliance with Network Rail policies, procedures, governance, legal (including EU Directives), and regulatory requirements.
- Manage a range of preferred suppliers, developing positive supplier relationships aligned to business objectives.
- Identify cost reduction and efficiency opportunities and contribute to the achievement of efficiency targets for a specific portfolio.
- Manage the process for measuring supplier performance to facilitate continuous improvement.
- Exercise delegated authority to procure in accordance with established policies and governance.

Experience
- Sound commercial aptitude and knowledge of relevant supplier markets.
- Varied and successful procurement and contracts background with experience in negotiation and developing and implementing procurement and contract strategies.
- Knowledge of EU Procurement Directives.
- Awareness of contract safety and environmental requirements.

About you
- Ability to communicate strategies and concepts simply and effectively.
- Strong persuasion and stakeholder influence skills.

Qualifications
- Educated to degree level (desirable).
- Knowledge of e-procurement (desirable).
- Membership of relevant professional institute (desirable).
- Knowledge of the rail industry (desirable).