Job Title
Head of Procurement (Grade 11)
Locations
Service Headquarters (Maidstone)
Hours
Full Time – 37 Hours per week
Pension
Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme – career average pension scheme with 18.5% employer contribution
Holidays
In addition to bank/public holidays you will receive X days holiday
Base Salary
£73,590 - £79,604 per annum depending on experience
Date Advertised
2 February 2026
Closing date
15 February 2026
Vacancy Ref
R000971
Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.
The Head of Procurement
The Head of Procurement at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is a critical leadership role where your foresight will ensure our organisation is ready for its mission to keep our customers safe.
The Mission
When emergencies occur, every second counts. Behind every life-saving intervention is a complex web of infrastructure, technology, and equipment that must work perfectly, every time.
We are looking for an experienced, high-calibre Head of Procurement to ensure our frontline colleagues have the tools they need to protect our community. The role is about strategic procurement planning with the purpose of ensuring the resilience, safety, and innovation of a vital emergency service.
The Team is formed of five Categories: Facilities Management and Construction (Property); ICT; Fleet; Professional Services; Operations, the biggest spend being FM & Construction.
The Role
As the Head of Procurement, you will be the architect of our commercial strategy. Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, you will move beyond transactional purchasing to drive a value-based, socially responsible procurement culture.
Your key priorities
* Strategic Leadership: Leading a dedicated team to deliver a multi-million-pound capital and revenue program, from high-tech fire appliances to specialized PPE.
* Commercial Innovation: Navigating complex public sector frameworks while seeking creative ways to drive efficiency and sustainability.
* Risk & Resilience: Managing critical supply chains to ensure we are never "out of stock" when an emergency hits.
* Social Value: Ensuring our spending power supports local economies and aligns with our commitment to environmental carbon reduction.
* Collaboration: Identifying opportunities to work with other fire services and partner organisations to deliver procurement activities that are mutually beneficial and provide best value.
Who you are
You are an experienced procurement professional who thrives on complexity and purpose. Ideally you will come from a public sector background, or you may be a private sector leader looking to transition into a role where your work has a tangible impact on human life.
We are looking for
* MCIPS Qualification (or equivalent senior experience).
* A Strategic Thinker: Someone who can navigate the Public Contracts Regulations while still being commercially agile.
* An Influencer: The ability to build trust with everyone from frontline firefighters to senior stakeholders.
* A Change Agent: Experience in modernising procurement processes and implementing digital e-sourcing tools.
* Construction and JCT / NEC: Preferably have a strong background within Facilities Management and/or Construction along with working with NEC and JCT contracts.
* Desirable, not essential: Proven experience managing high-value, complex procurements within a public sector environment (Blue Light, Local Government, or NHS).
Why Join Us?
* Meaningful Impact: Every contract you sign contributes to saving lives.
* Stability & Benefits: Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous holiday allowance, and flexible working arrangements.
* Professional Growth: We invest in our leaders through continuous professional development and executive coaching.
Benefits
* Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
* Blue Light Card discount scheme supported by several high street retailers
* A range of family friendly policies promoting work-life balance
* Access to health and wellbeing services and advice
* Free parking
* Above all you’ll become part of a service that is committed to the safety of our community
How to apply
Please complete an online application and CV by midnight on Sunday 15 February 2026.
Interviews will take place week commencing 23 February.
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don’t think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.
As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how these fits in with their everyday work.
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