Head of Procurement

Char.gy Char.gy is the UK's leading provider of on-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure. We partner with local authorities to design, build and operate public charging networks under long-term concession agreements, giving households without a driveway a reliable way to charge an EV and have achieved a significant market share of recent Levi tender awards. Funded by Zouk Capital, we operate a fast-growing portfolio of LEVI-funded concessions, with over 5,100 charge points live on-street today and more than 58,000 further in the pipeline for deployment. We are a successful scale-up and building the commercial engine to match that growth is one of our clear priorities. Role Overview As Head of Procurement you will lead char.gy's procurement function and play a pivotal role in the business's continued growth across the UK. You'll set the long-term procurement strategy across Installation, Maintenance and Manufacturing services, lead negotiations with our critical partners, and implement a best-in-class Procurement Governance structure. Your responsibilities include; setting and delivering char.gy's long-term procurement strategy across Installation, Maintenance and Manufacturing services, leading negotiations and drafting agreements with critical partners, including NEC4 contracts, implementing and overseeing a best-in-class Procurement Governance structure, encompassing Contract and Supplier Management, and supporting the wider business with general procurement requirements. This strategic leadership position requires someone who can balance commercial and legal understanding of NEC4 and other standard contract forms, hardware procurement, manufacturing and installation processes, and engaging with multiple stakeholders across the business. In the longer term, this role is expected to evolve beyond procurement into a broader Head of Supply Chain position, taking on oversight of supply chain activity across char.gy. Key Responsibilities Procurement Leadership & Critical Partner Negotiation Lead the negotiation and drafting of agreements with char.gy's critical partners, including NEC4 contract drafting for installation and infrastructure works Act as the senior procurement authority for the business, providing expert guidance and decision-making on high-value and high-risk agreements Support the wider business with general procurement requirements, ensuring timely, commercially sound outcomes across departments Represent procurement at senior leadership and board level, advising on commercial strategy, contractual risk and negotiation outcomes Build and maintain strong relationships with critical suppliers, manufacturers and delivery partners to secure favourable long-term agreements Procurement Strategy Set and own char.gy's immediate and long-term procurement strategies, aligned to the company's growth plans across Installation, Maintenance and Manufacturing services Define category strategies for each service line, identifying opportunities for consolidation, cost efficiency and supply resilience Assess market dynamics, supplier capability and emerging technologies to shape make-versus-buy and sourcing decisions Translate strategy into a clear roadmap, sequencing priority categories and critical supplier agreements Partner with Finance, Operations and Technical teams to ensure procurement strategy supports wider business objectives Procurement Governance Framework Design, implement and oversee a best-in-class Procurement Governance structure spanning Contract Management and Supplier Management Establish governance policies, approval processes and risk management frameworks for procurement and contracting activity Define standardised contract templates, playbooks and negotiation guidelines to drive consistency across the organisation Set the framework and cadence for supplier segmentation, performance management and relationship governance Monitor compliance with procurement governance and continuously improve processes as the function matures Contract & Supplier Management Oversee day-to-day contract and supplier management activity across existing agreements, ensuring service levels and commercial terms are met Maintain oversight of contract renewals, amendments and general administration while baseline agreements are established with critical suppliers Provide light-touch monitoring of supplier performance in the near term, escalating and resolving issues as they arise Build the roadmap towards fully integrated Contract and Supplier Management once baseline agreements are in place with critical suppliers Progressively transition day-to-day management activity into the wider Procurement Governance structure as it matures Team Leadership Build and lead a high-performing procurement, contract and supplier management team Provide mentorship, coaching, and development opportunities for team members Establish clear roles, responsibilities and performance expectations aligned to the procurement strategy and governance structure Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and commercial excellence Ensure the team has the skills and resources needed to support char.gy's growing procurement portfolio Public Sector & Business Support Support our delivery and success teams with local authority and public sector engagement Ensure compliance with public procurement regulations and requirements (where applicable) Provide procurement input into concession agreements and public-private partnerships Monitor and report on contract performance against service level agreements Provide general procurement support to the business as needed, extending governance and best-practice approaches into public sector engagements Qualifications & Experience Required Minimum 8+ years of experience in procurement or contracts leadership, with at least 3 years in a senior management role Proven experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements Track record of setting and delivering procurement strategy across multiple service lines or categories Experience designing and implementing procurement governance frameworks, including contract and supplier management structures Excellent knowledge of contract law, commercial terms, and procurement governance best practice Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities Experience building and leading high-performing procurement teams Preferred Experience in the EV charging, renewable energy, or related utility infrastructure sectors Experience in broader supply chain functions (e.g. logistics, demand planning, inventory management) Bachelor's degree in business, law, supply chain management, or related field Knowledge of UK public procurement frameworks and regulations Understanding of installation, maintenance and manufacturing processes within infrastructure or hardware businesses Knowledge of or formal training in NEC4 contract drafting, negotiation and management Professional qualification in procurement or contract management (e.g., CIPS, IACCM/World Commerce & Contracting) Experience working in a fast-growth, PE-backed company Personal Attributes Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen Exceptional negotiation and relationship-building skills Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to accuracy Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Proactive problem-solver with a solutions-oriented mindset Effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels Collaborative approach with a focus on cross-functional partnerships Passion for sustainability and the transition to clean transportation What do we offer? Being committed to our employees mean we offer more than just a competitive salary: 🤝 Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and sustainability is embedded in what we do and how we act as a company. 🏢 We believe we do our best work when we're connected which is why we allow our employees to work from home up to 2 days a week. 🌴 25 days off to go on holiday and recharge your batteries! 🍼 Celebrate having a child with enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave packages. 🏎️ By joining a dynamic environment like ours - you can learn, develop and grow your career – because you're in the driving seat! 🩺 We cover your premium for a fully comprehensive private medical insurance with AXA. 🦷 We cover your premium for a fully comprehensive private level 2 dental insurance with BUPA. 🚂 We offer season ticket loan via our portal “Let’s Commute” to help employees to spread the cost of their travel ticket through monthly deductions from their salaries. 🛟 We understand that life can sometimes throw unexpected challenges in your way and if our employees are unable to work for an extended period due to illness, Unum covers 75% of your salary for up to three years. 🫶 10 personal fulfilment days to mix and match between having a "Life Admin", "Emergency", "Birthday Off" or "Personal Development". 🔒 We provide you with Life Assurance benefit at 4 times your salary! 📞 Call our employee assistance programme when you need someone to talk to via UNUM. We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of any characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010. Our recruitment and selection processes are based solely on merit, skills, experience and potential, assessed against the requirements of the role. We use fair, transparent and inclusive hiring practices and make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process to support candidates with disabilities. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Please note: you must have valid right to work in the UK, we unfortunately cannot provide sponsorship.