Senior Procurement Manager

The Company

At Fora, we're fuelled by a desire to enhance the way people work. We're here for the progressives, the forward thinkers, the status quo-challengers, the creators and the innovators. With signature hospitality, a likeminded community of members and a re-energising wellness experience, Fora takes the grind out of daily work-life, so members can focus on what's important - working productively, healthily and happily.

Our journey began over 20 years ago, when we opened our first location on London's City Road. Since then, our collection has grown to over 60 distinctive workspaces across London, the UK and Germany, totalling 3.2 million sq ft of real estate. Over the last two decades we have welcomed approximately 300,000 members through our doors, with over 30,000 members today, and boast market-leading retention rates.

As a trusted workspace provider for teams of all sizes, from established brands to new ventures, our uniquely designed, flexible office spaces come with a range of exceptional on-site amenities and a dedicated Member Experience team to take care of all the day-to-day details. Ocado, The British Fashion Council and Pangaia are just some of the businesses who call a Fora workspace home.

Fora is London's leading provider of flexible offices. All our design-led spaces are open and supported by our dedicated front-of- house teams, five days per week. We pride ourselves on being a highly collaborative team, with our best work happening in-person, at our Fitzrovia-based headquarters. Our current working pattern allows for all head-office employees to work remotely one day per week.

Fora is part of The Office Group, backed by Blackstone and Brockton Capital. We have ambitious plans to expand our collection of workspaces in the future, pioneering industry change through our conscious design and construction practices, and creating workspaces that empower our members to work in their own unique way.

The Role

This is a brand new position and as the Head of Procurement and Cost Control you will provide strategic insights, maintain financial discipline, and collaborate with other departments to optimise cost efficiency across the business.

The Head of Procurement and Cost Control is responsible for overseeing and managing the financial cost control function within the organisation. The role involves ensuring that the operational and project costs are monitored, controlled, and aligned with budgetary goals. You will also be responsible for leading the strategic sourcing and procurement functions across the organisation.

This role will challenge spend through various savings levers such as specification, price, efficiency, exit and demand of supplier spend to optimise costs. Additionally, you will enhance the cost control processes, including spend approvals, governance, project costs and spend reporting. Ensuring that all costs are monitored, controlled and aligned with budgetary goals. You will be delivering cost savings, improve supplier relationships and maintain the highest standards of quality and compliance.

Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Lead the procurement team to deliver cost-effective, high-quality solutions while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
• Provide guidance on global procurement trends and best practices.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and mentor a team of procurement professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
• Provide training and development opportunities to ensure the procurement team stays up-to-date on the latest trends, regulations, and technologies.

Contract Negotiation and Compliance

• Negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Ensure adherence to corporate policies, ethical standards, and relevant laws during the procurement process.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Work closely with departmental heads to define realistic cost expectations and projections.
• Review and validate financial forecasts to ensure accuracy and alignment with business objectives.
• Continuously update financial forecasts and reports to reflect any changes in market conditions or operational requirements.

Reporting & Analysis

• Provide timely, accurate, and insightful cost reports to senior management, highlighting key issues and opportunities for cost optimisation.
• Prepare regular reports on cost performance, cost trends, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Conduct detailed analysis on cost drivers, cost reductions, and cost effectiveness across different functions and departments.

Process Improvement & Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to improve cost control processes, systems, and tools to enhance overall financial management.
• Work with operational teams to develop and implement cost-saving initiatives and performance improvement strategies.
• Ensure the continuous optimisation of resource allocation, leveraging both internal and external resources to minimise waste and maximise efficiency.
• Identify and evaluate suppliers, negotiating contracts to achieve the best value for the company.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring performance meets quality, cost, and delivery standards.
• Oversee the supplier selection process and ensure due diligence is conducted.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify and assess financial risks related to cost overruns, inaccuracies, or inefficiencies and propose mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial controls, policies, and external regulatory requirements.
• Conduct audits and reviews to identify discrepancies or inefficiencies in cost reporting and implementation.
• Identify and mitigate procurement risks, including supply chain disruptions and price fluctuations.
• Ensure business continuity by developing contingency plans for critical suppliers and materials.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure buy-in and support for cost-saving initiatives.
• Act as a point of contact for cost control-related queries and issues.
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Finance, Operations, Legal) to ensure procurement aligns with organizational needs and processes.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to define procurement requirements and ensure timely delivery of goods and services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a cost control or procurement role, preferably within a private equity-backed or real estate/consumer business.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, cost accounting, and financial analysis techniques.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies, supply chain management, and contract negotiation.
• Ability to analyze complex data, problem solve and decision making abilities.
• In-depth understanding of cost management and financial modelling.
• Experience in managing financial systems and tools for cost tracking and reporting.
• A solid understanding of cost control processes and best practices and implementation.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

At The Office Group, we know that work isn't just about working. We offer all of our employers a fantastic range of benefits, including;

• Flexible working hours
• Hybrid working - 4 days in the office
• Birthday off
• 28 days annual leave
• 2 weeks work from anywhere
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Healthshield
• Study support
• 5% Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Discounted Gym membership
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 25% Discount at The Office Group Cafes
• Discounted event spaces