Tree Procurement Lead

About Us: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats.

The Role: 

• Lead procurement activities including sourcing, purchase contracts, orders, and stock management.
• Oversee the delivery of trees for the Woodland Trust, crucial for achieving woodland creation, protection, and restoration targets.
• Institute an end-to-end procurement process, manage growing contracts, and respond to demand changes.
• Ensure effective stock control and efficient distribution.
• Lead a team supporting existing tree procurement processes and implement new systems for robust procurement and distribution
• Involved in funded projects related to seed sourcing and sector capacity building.
• Support the Woodland Trust's 10-year strategy, PlanTREES, contributing to the goal of creating 60,000 hectares of woodland across the UK
• This role includes a mix of working from home and at our main office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Visits to Grantham would be required no more than once per quarter. There will also be quarterly visits to clients and suppliers with some overnight stays. 
• This is a 12-month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave with a proposed start date of Monday 18th November 2024.

The Candidate:

• You are an experienced procurement professional with a strong background in managing supply chain challenges
• You have a comprehensive knowledge of procurement systems and deliver excellent service to stakeholders by being flexible and collaborative
• With exceptional relationship management skills, you serve as a key point of contact for internal stock users and nurseries
• You have strong decision-making abilities under pressure and the capacity to interpret complex datasets
• As a confident communicator, you engage in challenging conversations with key commercial partners to ensure the best value for money
• You have an excellent appreciation of the UK forestry, nursery, and seed supply sectors along with a detailed understanding of UKSIG Assurance.
• You can manage and monitor expenditure effectively, with potential for sound line management in a growing team.
• Additionally, you are confident in undertaking negotiations, managing contracts, and maintaining Service Level Agreements with third-party suppliers and contractors. 

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
•    Enhanced Employer Pension
•    Life Assurance
•    Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
•    Generous Annual Leave
•    Enhanced Parental Pay
•    Employee Assistance Programme

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Woodland Trust embraces diversity and inclusion. We want our team to reflect the UK's diverse community. We support people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who are under-represented.

Application Advice: Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. Your enthusiasm for the environment and our core values—Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count—are what matter most. We also keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, so they do not see your CV until shortlisting is completed. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows your experience and passion for the role.

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on our planet.