Job Title: Procurement Manager – Contracting and Indirect

Reports to: Head of Procurement Europe

Employment type: Full time, 35 hours per week, permanent

Based: Burntwood, Hybrid – 2/3 days a week in the office

Salary: Up to £50k DOE plus company car

Busy Bees is looking for a dynamic and driven Procurement Manager to lead contracting and indirect procurement activities across the UK and Europe, currently centred around Dublin. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the fastest growing departments in the business and make a tangible impact on procurement strategy, contract management, and supplier relationships.

In this role, you will:

• Take ownership of tendering, contracting, and sourcing strategies across all categories.

• Ensure compliance with procurement processes, delivering value for money while meeting business objectives.

• Maintain accurate contract registers and supplier databases across UK and Europe.

• Support ESG objectives for indirect contracts and contribute to sustainable procurement initiatives.

• Collaborate with internal teams and stakeholders across multiple territories, ensuring timely and effective delivery of procurement requirements.

• Negotiate contracts, mitigate supplier risks, and provide strategic procurement insights to senior management.

We are seeking a self-motivated team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.

Founded in 1983, Busy Bees is the UK’s leading childcare provider and the fourth largest globally, with over 900 centres worldwide and ambitious plans to reach 1,000. We are a values-driven, purpose-led organisation, committed to giving every child the best start in life.

Working at Busy Bees means you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay and flexible working options

• A supportive, collaborative, and growth-focused culture

• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement

Why you'll love working for us

• Sector-leading family leave, including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
• Smart Hive – our 24/7 employee benefits platform with retail, travel, and cinema discounts
• Childcare discounts
• Your birthday off every year plus 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• Health and wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme, Peppy, and Mental Health apps
• Professional development through our in-house training academy and access to further qualification

• Lead and implement procurement strategies aligned to company objectives for the UK and European territories.

• Manage fast-paced tenders, contracting processes, and sourcing activities, ensuring compliance and value delivery.

• Collaborate with internal teams to understand requirements and deliver procurement solutions on time.

• Provide guidance to stakeholders on procurement best practices, including contract performance and cost escalation reviews.

• Maintain the UK and Europe contract register and supplier database.

• Deliver annual cost savings targets and support ESG procurement initiatives.

• Develop reports and insights for Senior Management Team (SMT).

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating contracts and ensuring compliance.

• Support global procurement initiatives and align best practices across all group territories.

• Identify, assess, and mitigate procurement risks, ensuring legal and policy compliance.

• 5+ years of procurement experience, ideally across contracting and indirect categories.

• Deep understanding of suppliers, markets, and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM).

• Proven negotiation skills and experience in contract drafting (schedules, commercials, terms, and conditions).

• Track record of delivering value for money and strong supplier performance management.

• Ability to influence at senior leadership levels.

• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical and organisational skills.

• Self-starter with a “can-do” attitude and ability to thrive in a high-pressure, fast-moving environment.

This is your chance to join a high-impact, expanding procurement team within a globally recognised, purpose-driven organisation. If you’re motivated by delivering strategic procurement excellence, working with talented colleagues, and shaping the future of one of the world’s leading childcare providers, we’d love to hear from you.