Procurement Manager

About This Role

Leading procurement activity across a growing Multi Academy Trust is the core of this strategic opportunity, ensuring compliance, value for money, contract governance, and consistency of approach. Reporting to the Finance Director, the successful candidate will develop and implement a Trust-wide procurement and contract management framework, including preferred supplier arrangements, standard contract terms, and full lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust-wide procurement and contract management strategy
• Establish and maintain preferred supplier arrangements, framework portfolio, standard contract terms, and performance expectations
• Drive standardisation, aggregation, and contract consolidation to improve value and reduce risk
• Ensure procurement compliance with Trust Financial Regulations, the Academies Trust Handbook, and Procurement Act 2023
• Develop and maintain procurement and contract management policies, procedures, templates, and guidance
• Lead and manage high-value, complex, and above-threshold procurement exercises
• Advise schools and senior leaders on compliant tendering, quotation, and direct award processes
• Develop and embed a contract management framework covering the full supplier lifecycle - ensuring that all contracts are clearly documented, accessible, and managed
• Lead supplier performance management, contract review meetings, and commercial negotiations
• Analyse spend and contract data to identify savings, efficiencies, and value-for-money opportunities

Requirements

• Degree level or equivalent experience
• CIPS qualified, working towards CIPS, or another relevant qualification
• Experience of procurement in a medium to large complex organisation, preferably public sector
• Experience managing tenders, supplier frameworks, e-tendering, and e-sourcing portals
• Strong understanding of procurement compliance, financial controls, governance, and public sector accountability
• Demonstrable experience delivering value for money and cost savings
• Strong commercial, analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Commitment to co-operative values, British Values, and the Ways of Being Co-op

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of ESG and sustainable procurement principles

Benefits

• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Defined benefit pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Co-op colleague membership, including 30% off selected Co-op branded products and 10% off branded products in Co-op Group food stores
• Employee Assistance Programme for colleagues and members of their household