Deputy Director of Procurement

Location: Hawkshead (nr Potters Bar, Herts) / Camden (Kings Cross, London)

Closing date: 23:59 hours BST on Monday 25^th August 2025

Interview date: Tuesday 9^th September 2025

Are you a procurement professional with a broad background in both strategic and operational purchasing with excellent influencing and negotiating skills? Can you demonstrate experience of leading complex procurement projects working alongside senior stakeholders and managing systems implementation and change programmes? Do you have a pragmatic and flexible approach? If yes, we are keen to hear from you.

We are seeking to appoint a new inspirational and strategic leader as Deputy Director of Procurement within the Finance Function, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. 

Founded in 1791, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the longest-established veterinary school in the English-speaking world and a member institution of the University of London. In April 2023, the RVC was granted full University status by His Majesty the King. The RVC offers outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biomedical sciences and has been ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World Rankings by subject for the last four years.

The University’s Purchasing service is a small centralised department with 3 staff delivering both operational and strategic purchasing accounting for an annual non-pay spend of approximately £50m and some 31,000 individual purchasing transactions. The procurement service supports all activities of the organisation including academic and non-academic such as research, teaching, facilities, IT and professional services. 

You will support the Chief Financial Officer in the management of the procurement function, shaping and supporting the strategic development of procurement across the University, making a significant contribution to University strategy and policy in relation to financial sustainability and value for money. 

Likely to have significant procurement leadership experience with at least several years in a senior leadership role, we are looking for applicants with a track record of achievement in leading procurement transformation change with the intellectual and professional standing required to command respect within the university community. Applicants should have strong category knowledge in areas such as IT, Estates, Facilities Management and professional services. Preferably with HEI experience, applicants will have demonstrable experience in procurement technologies and digital transformation initiatives. We are looking for individuals with strong technical understanding of the end to end procurement process including strategic sourcing and standard sourcing methodologies and an extensive knowledge of sustainable procurement practices and delivery of supplier relationship management initiatives.

Applicants will have an open, confident and convincing communication style with highly developed personal skills in relating to and inspiring colleagues at all levels and exceptional levels of personal drive, energy and resilience. For more details about the role and applicant requirements, please see the job information documents. 

 We offer a generous reward package and benefits including:

• Competitive and attractive pension package
• Generous 30 days annual leave per annum (plus bank holidays and concessionary days)
• On site café and restaurant
• Free membership to the newly built Fitness and Wellbeing Centre located on site (gym, badminton, climbing wall, Zumba, yoga and Pilates classes included)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free mini-bus service to and from Potters Bar station and Hawkshead Campus

Contact information 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact Roo Goodwin, Executive Assistant to Sam Horne, Chief Financial Officer. ruthgoodwin@rvc.ac.uk

The RVC values Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and therefore welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities. Balancing both the needs of the business with those of our staff, we will consider applications to work on a flexible basis.

We particularly encourage and welcome female applicants, applicants with a disability, and applicants from a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) background as we are committed to increasing our representation within these groups who are currently under- represented at senior levels within the RVC.

 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Further details:

Job Description

Person Specification

Conditions of Employment