Procurement Business Partner

Bradford College; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Bradford College is seeking a proactive Procurement Business Partner to drive compliant, value-for-money procurement across the organisation. You will work with senior stakeholders to develop category strategies, manage contracts and supplier performance, and embed governance under the Procurement Act 2023.

The role offers an opportunity to shape processes and deliver social value while supporting innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent level of work experience.
• MCIPS desirable but not essential.
• GCSE 4–9 in Maths or English, or pass tests before interview.
• Significant experience leading category strategies and end-to-end procurements (ITT development, evaluation and award).

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategies for priority spend areas; market analysis, benchmarking and business cases.
• Plan and run compliant tenders and framework call-offs; coordinate evaluations and moderation; produce award recommendations and audit trail.
• Draft/agree contract terms with KPIs, SLAs, and exit plans; ensure agreements are stored centrally; prevent auto-renewals without review.
• Apply the College risk acceptance framework; maintain contract risk logs; implement supplier tiering and periodic reviews.
• Establish KPI/SLA baselines and dashboards; run monthly/quarterly reviews; publish metrics as required.
• Use the PCMS to maintain the digital contracts register, alerts and workflows; produce quarterly KPI/risk reports.

Skills

Procurement

Stakeholder management

Contract management

KPI/SLA design

Financial acumen

Social value

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

MCIPS desirable

GCSE Maths/ English Level 2

Tools

PCMS

MS Office

Job description

We are seeking a proactive and commercially astute Procurement Business Partner to play a pivotal role in delivering compliant, value-for-money procurement solutions across the organisation. Working closely with senior stakeholders, budget holders and project teams, you will lead end-to-end procurement activities, develop category strategies, manage complex contracts and drive supplier performance in line with the Procurement Act 2023.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Bradford College at a pivotal stage in its procurement and contract management transformation journey. As we continue to embed new ways of working, strengthen commercial governance and enhance supplier and contract management practices, you will have the opportunity to influence change, shape processes and make a visible impact across the organisation. We are looking for a relationship-focused professional who is passionate about governance, social value and delivering outstanding commercial outcomes while supporting innovation, continuous improvement and long-term organisational success.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead category strategies for priority spend areas; complete market analysis, benchmarking and business cases; champion value for money, whole‑life costing and social value from the outset.
• Plan and run compliant tenders and framework call‑offs; coordinate evaluations and moderation; produce award recommendations and ensure full audit trail.
• Draft/agree contract terms incorporating KPIs, SLAs, performance remedies and exit plans; ensure agreements are signed and stored centrally; prevent auto‑renewals without review.
• Apply the College risk acceptance framework; maintain contract risk logs with mitigation actions; implement supplier tiering and schedule periodic reviews per tier; elevate material risks.
• Establish KPI/SLA baselines and dashboards; run monthly/quarterly reviews; drive corrective actions, service credits or improvement plans; publish metrics where required.
• Use the PCMS to maintain the digital contracts register, alerts and workflows; produce quarterly reports on KPI trends, risk exposure, contract changes and forward plans.
• Ensure adherence to Financial Regulations (including VAT‑inclusive thresholds), procurement legislation and SSJ/waiver processes; provide advice and training to stakeholders.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

As part of the hiring process, candidates may be required to complete a psychometric test, which will provide valuable insight into your potential fit within Bradford College.

Education & Training

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent level of work experience
• MCIPS is desirable but not essential
• GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale
• GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale

Experience

• Significant experience leading category strategies and end‑to‑end procurements (ITT development, evaluation and award).
• Proven contract management experience including KPI/SLA design, performance reviews and remedial actions.
• Applying supplier risk frameworks and due diligence (financial, data protection, ESG, safeguarding).
• Public sector experience with Financial Regulations and compliance processes (including SSJ/waivers).
• Stakeholder engagement and change support across diverse departments.
• Working knowledge of Office Systems and Procedures.
• Experience of Finance related work and Budget monitoring

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.

Please note that if you are successful and accept a role, any other ongoing applications for other roles with us will be withdrawn automatically.

Bradford College

At Bradford College, our ambition is to transform the lives of our learners, help them to aim higher and support them to achieve their goals.

Located in the heart of Bradford, we offer a wide range of courses at varying levels, with something to suit everyone. From undergraduate to postgraduate and professional qualifications, to distance learning and short community courses.

We aim to attract and retain knowledgeable, passionate and focused individuals who can inspire, motivate and support both learners and colleagues. With a can‑do attitude and desire for continuous self‑improvement, you could make a difference in the lives of everyone at Bradford College.

Should you be shortlisted for an interview, as a Disability Confident employer, where required, we will make reasonable adjustments to your interview to ensure you are given the best opportunity to succeed. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments for the interview, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your options.

Bradford College is proud to be working towards becoming a Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer. This commitment reflects our dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all staff. We are implementing policies, resources, and awareness initiatives to ensure everyone feels valued and supported through every stage of life.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

• Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 30 days of holidays, plus bank holidays
• Additional college closure days, including a 2-week Christmas closure
• West Yorkshire Pension Scheme, with a generous 18% employer contribution
• Annual salary reviews
• Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally
• Free sports and gym facilities
• Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space
• Confidential employee assistance service and on‑site mental health first aiders
• Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback
• Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts
• Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student‑led Signature Spa
• A host of training development opportunities
• Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025
• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

*If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in‑house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection with children and vulnerable adults.