Strategic Purchasing Advisor
Job number: COO01467
Faculties: Chief Operating Officer (COO) Team
Departments: Finance Division
Salary or Salary range: £48,246 - £58,318 per annum
Location/campus: White City Campus - Hybrid
Contract type work pattern: Full time - Open ended
Posting End Date: 18 Nov 2026
About the role
Are you a strategic purchasing professional? Do you have experience in working in a fast-paced Procurement team? Do you want to be a key member of a team that drives organisational success?
We are looking to appoint a strategic purchasing adviser to join the University’s Procurement team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role with principal responsibility for the implementation and adoption of preferred supplier agreements on an Imperial-wide basis and monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of such agreements and of establishing supplier agreements to facilitate the consolidation of Imperial’s supplier base in areas where there is relatively medium/low value purchasing activity.
What you would be doing
- Lead and Co-ordinate the implementation and adoption of preferred supplier agreements covering the broad range of different supply categories including support services, IT, laboratory, specialised services and other goods and services from time to time purchased by Imperial.
- Provide professional procurement advice and consultation to departmental managers and buyers across departments that support the contract management and delivery process including from time to time the development and drafting of technical specifications, competitive tendering and supplier evaluation and selection.
- Ensure the effective communication, promotion and marketing of purchasing agreements and provide professional advice/guidance as required.
- Deliver cost reductions through the implementation of modern and professional strategic purchasing techniques ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
- Support the established of the buyer network and drive procurement activities/improvements and ensure these activities are conducted in accordance with Prince II project management methodologies
- Be an active member of relevant working groups and committees and represent and promote the Procurement team to ensure that issues are raised appropriately and acted upon accordingly
What we are looking for
- Experience of a Procurement role working in a complex environment in either the public or private sector
- Demonstrable experience of managing procurement programmes and projects delivering important change
- Ability to analyse external market and management reports to inform decision-making
- Experience and self-sufficiency in the use of the following computer software: Microsoft Office, PowerPoint Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
What we can offer you
- The opportunity to be a key player in a team that is integral to the smooth running of Imperial’s Procurement Team.
- The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
- Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days’ annual leave and generous pension schemes).
- Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
- Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
- Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.
Further information
This is a full-time post (35 hours per week).
Candidates are required to complete an online application.
Due to the nature of this role, we will be shortlisting candidates as applications are received. We therefore reserve the right to close this vacancy as soon as a suitable candidate has been appointed. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as possible to avoid disappointment.
Should you require any further details on the role please contact Finance Development at finance-development@imperial.ac.uk
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.
We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you have any general queries about this vacancy, please contact the hiring manager listed in the ‘Further Information’ section. Alternatively, you can contact the Recruitment Hub at recruitmenthub@imperial.ac.uk, and we will be happy to assist you.
If you experience any technical issues that prevent you from submitting an application, please contact our Technical Support team at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk, who will be able to help resolve the issue.
About Imperial
Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.
Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.
As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.
This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.
Our Culture
We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, and creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages.
Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.
Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.
