Candidate Opportunity Briefing Document
Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Group) are a leading Executive search firm to the UK, North American and European Rail, Defence, Technology & Heavy Manufacturing industries.
Our search directors, search consultants and research teams specialise in all horizontal functions of our clients' organisations with expertise spanning engineering, commercial, procurement, HR, IT, finance, HSQE, sales, projects, operations and c-suite.
We are trusted by over 100 leading organisations when they seek to make a leadership appointment, be that a permanent appointment or interim solutions.
We have been appointed by our client company on a retained search for a Group Procurement Manager, who is an analytical and knowledgeable supply chain expert to define processes, create systems in order to satisfy the business’s growing needs amid continued success.
Below you will find an ‘candidate opportunity briefing document’ developed from notes taken during the scoping meeting (Situational Discovery) held between the Senior Research Associate and Head of Ford & Stanley Executive Search of Ford & Stanley Executive Search and the General Manager and Personnel and Administration Manager.
This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification.
Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:
Introduce a procurement system, processes, and purchasing sign-off procedures.
Implement consistency in the supply chain, identifying the suppliers that add the most value and formalising agreements. Assessing for new suppliers where savings can be made and where extra value can be gained.
Build relationships with colleagues and ensure that the new procurement systems are utilised and adhered to. Win over the collaboration of colleagues by showing the vision, explaining the need and benefits, and ensuring the system is user-friendly and practical to use.
Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)
§ Industrial, engineering or rail industry background preferred, complete with experience of having ownership of a procurement function.
§ CIPS Level 5, or relevant qualifications and academics in procurement and supply chain.
§ Exposure to senior-level responsibility and responsible for processes, procedures, and overall direction. Ideally, manager level on their way to a “Head of” position or similar.
§ A track record of interfacing with multiple stakeholders.
§ Proven track record operating effectively within an SME environment and able to keep pace with an ever-changing environment.
§ Able to demonstrate an ability to create and implement procurement systems without the backing of costly specialist software and working without a pre-established process.
Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)
§ Capable communicator who can teach and explain perfect process to internal stakeholders.
§ Approachable, relationship-driven driven and will build strong relationships with a close-knit team.
§ Strong negotiation, contract management and supplier relationship skills.
§ Able to build rapport quickly and take people on a journey.
Working Arrangements & Location:
Headquartered in the East Midlands, the company offer a hybrid working policy and will attend the office for at least 3 days a week.
Ford & Stanley Interview Process:
1st Stage: Candidate Discovery: An open, conversational and consultative discussion where interested candidates are assessed on their suitability for the role in the context of the above and challenged on how the opportunity lines up with their career aspirations, motivations, financial expectations and personal circumstances.
2nd Stage: The ‘shortlist’: Candidates are asked to reflect on the candidate discovery discussion, take time to reflect on the opportunity and undertake subsequent research on the client business, reporting back on their thoughts, questions and providing additional specific information on their suitability (if applicable). Final checks of role, package and logistical alignments made.
Client Company’s Interview Process:
1st Stage – Teams interview with a focus on their background and soft skill suitability with both the General Manager and HR Manager.
Psychometric Test: Candidates successful at 1st stage will undergo a Thomas International Personality Assessment, which will inform the conversation at 2nd Stage. This assessment will be organised and provided by Ford & Stanley Executive Search.
2nd Stage – Face-to-face interview with the General Manager and HR Manager.
3rd Stage – Rubber stamping session with preferred candidate.
Good to know:
The position has occurred as a result of business growth and a subsequent need for a supply chain subject matter expert. Procurement is being performed by the various departments with the help of consultants; however, there are significant gains to be made from formalising the function.
Procurement categories are varied and range between Direct and Indirect: consumables, office supplies, oils and services, to name a few. It’s worth noting that there is also a large portion of the procurement of PSE which will need to be explored.
The successful individual will report into the General Manager. The role does not have any direct reports; however, it has senior-level accountabilities in terms of establishing a supply chain, creating and ensuring the utilisation of a procurement system, as well as defining best practice.
The working environment can be described as agile, quick, and unaffected by red tape. This is an SME with an incredible passion for the products, industry, progress and achievements of the collective. With a culture of “name, not a number”, this is a business where everyone knows everyone, and this sets the company apart from others in the sector. With the flagship product expected to be in circulation for decades, there is a real sense of creating a legacy.
Due to the business being an SME, they do not have advanced software to manage procurement processes, and the Group Procurement Manager will need to utilise simple tools to devise a user-friendly system that colleagues can easily adopt and get behind.
An introduction of a sign-off process is needed in order to ensure adherence to the established supply chain and in order to achieve better alignment with finance, who are not always given the heads-up needed about expected invoices.
Budget:
Low: £60,000 / Mid: £62,500 / High: £65,000 + Wider business benefits
Executive Search Delivery Team:
Tom Norton – Head of Executive Search: Client & Search Management & Advisory, Offer Negotiation,
Emma Barlow – Senior Research Associate: Shortlisting, Networking, Research, Search, Longlisting, Interviews, Data & Market Intel
Ralitsa Kuzeva – Executive Assistant: Diary Management, Coordination, Candidate Experience
About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:
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Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy