Read the below blog from Zac Treacy, talking about his experience as a Procurement Business Partner at Edinburgh Airport!

What does a Procurement Business Partner do?

A Procurement Business Partner plays a pivotal role in ensuring the business makes smart, well-governed purchasing decisions. The role goes beyond buying — it’s about partnering with stakeholders across the organisation to guide them through every stage of the procurement process. This includes challenging spend to deliver value for money, managing supplier performance, and maintaining strong governance across systems and processes.

At its core, the role blends relationship-building, commercial awareness, and operational discipline. It’s about connecting people, processes, and performance to achieve the best outcomes for the business.

In my role, I focus primarily on IT operational procurement. I work closely with the IT leadership team, Legal, and Finance Business Partners when contracts are being drafted, negotiated, or renewed. I also collaborate with the IT Service Manager to review supplier performance and drive continuous improvement in supplier management.

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day often starts with reviewing and approving purchase orders to ensure compliance and accuracy. From there, much of the focus shifts to contracts — drafting new agreements, reviewing terms, and negotiating renewals to secure the best outcomes for the business. Supplier engagement is another key part of the role, whether that’s hosting meetings to discuss performance, resolving issues, or exploring opportunities for improvement. It’s a dynamic mix of governance, collaboration, and commercial decision-making that keeps procurement aligned with business goals while delivering value every step of the way. And, like most things at the airport, no two days are ever the same!

Best thing about being a Procurement Business Partner

Aside from working at the airport, the best part of the job is collaborating with different departments and making sure they have what they need to keep everything running smoothly. Being part of that process is incredibly rewarding because you’re helping the whole operation succeed.

How did you get to being a Procurement Business Partner?

I started my journey at Edinburgh Airport in 2023 as Procurement Business Support, not long after graduating from university. It’s been a steep learning curve, but a rewarding one. Since then, I have completed two of our internal development programs — Talent Academy and First Steps into Management — which really helped me build leadership and business skills. On top of that, I completed professional training through CIPS (the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply), which gave me a solid grounding in procurement best practices and governance. All of this gave me the confidence and knowledge to step up into the Procurement Business Partner role.

What skills do you need to be a Procurement Business Partner or for a career in procurement?

Procurement is all about mixing business sense with people skills. You’ll need commercial awareness to understand markets and make smart buying decisions. Being good at building relationships and working with stakeholders is important because you’ll be dealing with lots of different teams and suppliers.

Negotiation skills are a must for getting the best deals and keeping everything compliant. You’ll also want strong analytical and problem-solving skills to spot cost-saving opportunities and improve processes. Clear communication makes life easier when managing suppliers and collaborating with colleagues.

On top of that, being able to juggle big-picture planning with everyday tasks, knowing your way around procurement systems, and having a continuous improvement mindset will help you stand out and deliver real value.

What advice would you give to someone looking to apply for a role in procurement.

Be open to learning, procurement is a broad field with lots of different areas, from day-to-day buying to strategic sourcing and managing suppliers. You don’t need to have experience to get started; skills like communication, problem-solving, and building relationships go a long way. Make the most of any training you can get, whether that’s internal programs or professional qualifications like CIPS, to boost your knowledge and confidence. Most importantly, stay curious and proactive: ask questions, learn how the business works, and always think about how you can add value. If you like continuous improvement and work well with others, you’ll do great.