Procurement Manager

Hillingdon Manor School; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme with flexible contrib.

Your Wellbeing Matters

Job summary

Outcomes First Group is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead and develop the procurement function across the Group. You will shape procurement strategy, influence key business decisions and deliver commercial value across a large organisation with multiple brands.

You'll manage spend across categories, lead sourcing initiatives, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to optimise costs, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance and contracts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Procurement Manager or senior procurement leadership role.
• CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.
• Strong experience managing procurement activity across multiple categories and suppliers.
• Excellent commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
• Demonstrable experience delivering cost savings and value improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret spend and supplier data.
• Experience developing procurement strategies and category management approaches.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of procurement systems, governance and compliance frameworks.
• Experience within education, healthcare, care services or other multi-site environments.
• Experience leading procurement functions through periods of growth and transformation.
• Knowledge of sustainability and ESG considerations within procurement.
• Experience managing fleet procurement and operational service contracts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Group‑wide procurement strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Create category strategies across key areas of spend, identifying opportunities for consolidation, savings and value improvement.
• Lead strategic sourcing, tendering and procurement projects from initial scoping through to implementation.
• Analyse spend, supplier and market data to identify cost‑saving and efficiency opportunities.
• Build and maintain effective supplier relationship management processes and performance frameworks.
• Lead commercial negotiations and develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers.
• Review existing contracts and identify opportunities to improve commercial terms and service delivery.
• Provide procurement expertise and commercial challenge to stakeholders across the business.
• Develop procurement plans for new sites, projects and business initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate commercial and supply chain risks.
• Develop procurement KPIs, dashboards and reporting for senior leadership.
• Lead and develop the procurement team, promoting high performance and accountability.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with governance, policy and regulatory requirements.
• Lead supplier due diligence, onboarding and compliance processes.
• Oversee fleet procurement, supplier management and vehicle lifecycle activities.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and commercial best practice across the organisation.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Spend analytics

Category management

Education

CIPS qualification

Job description

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Procurement Manager

Outcomes First Group

• Permanent

Salary: up to £70,000 per annum

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Job Title: Procurement Manager

Location: Hybrid - Bolton (office-based with flexible hybrid working)

Contract: Permanent

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About Us

Outcomes First Group is the UK’s largest independent provider of specialist education and care. Through our divisional brands, we work across education, care and children’s services to deliver high-quality support and improve outcomes for children and young people.

As we continue to grow, we're looking for an experienced Procurement Manager to lead and develop our procurement function across the Group. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape procurement strategy, influence key business decisions and deliver meaningful commercial value across a large and complex organisation.

About the Role

You’ll lead procurement activity across multiple spend categories including infrastructure, fleet management, operational resources and strategic third-party suppliers.

This is a highly visible role, combining strategic procurement leadership with hands‑on commercial delivery. You’ll work with senior stakeholders across Finance, Property, IT and Operations to develop category strategies, lead sourcing initiatives and ensure supplier relationships and contracts support the organisation’s long‑term objectives.

Using market insight, spend analysis and supplier performance data, you’ll identify opportunities to optimise costs, improve service delivery, manage risk and create long‑term value across the Group.

We're looking for a commercially minded procurement professional who is confident influencing stakeholders, leading negotiations and driving continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Group‑wide procurement strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Create category strategies across key areas of spend, identifying opportunities for consolidation, savings and value improvement.
• Lead strategic sourcing, tendering and procurement projects from initial scoping through to implementation.
• Analyse spend, supplier and market data to identify cost‑saving and efficiency opportunities.
• Build and maintain effective supplier relationship management processes and performance frameworks.
• Lead commercial negotiations and develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers.
• Review existing contracts and identify opportunities to improve commercial terms and service delivery.
• Provide procurement expertise and commercial challenge to stakeholders across the business.
• Develop procurement plans for new sites, projects and business initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate commercial and supply chain risks.
• Develop procurement KPIs, dashboards and reporting for senior leadership.
• Lead and develop the procurement team, promoting high performance and accountability.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with governance, policy and regulatory requirements.
• Lead supplier due diligence, onboarding and compliance processes.
• Oversee fleet procurement, supplier management and vehicle lifecycle activities.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and commercial best practice across the organisation.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Procurement Manager or senior procurement leadership role.
• CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.
• Strong experience managing procurement activity across multiple categories and suppliers.
• Excellent commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
• Demonstrable experience delivering cost savings and value improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret spend and supplier data.
• Experience developing procurement strategies and category management approaches.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of procurement systems, governance and compliance frameworks.
• Experience within education, healthcare, care services or other multi-site environments.
• Experience leading procurement functions through periods of growth and transformation.
• Knowledge of sustainability and ESG considerations within procurement.
• Experience managing fleet procurement and operational service contracts.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation where procurement plays a critical role in delivering commercial value, supporting operational excellence and enabling future growth.

Outcomes First Group is the UK’s largest independent provider of specialist education and care, operating across England, Scotland and Wales through our divisional brands including Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools and Momenta Connect.

As Procurement Manager, you'll have the opportunity to shape procurement strategy, influence key business decisions and drive meaningful improvements across a complex, national organisation while working with senior leaders across multiple functions.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with flexible contribution options
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" – mental and physical health support
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Flexible benefits via Vista (Cycle to Work, Electric Car Scheme, discounts, critical illness cover and more)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

Wherever you work – whether in a city location or one of our more rural settings – you’ll be part of one dynamic family, aiming high and dreaming big, and helping the people we work with achieve their own personal goals

Salary: Up to £85,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

With amazing teams working across our family of brands – Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools– we offer a huge range of exciting career opportunities.

Meeting the social and emotional needs of pupils who have faced trauma or adversity, equipping them for life’s important steps.

Supporting autistic pupils to value their uniqueness and access the world in their own way.

At Momenta Connect we support young people to overcome barriers and engage with education.

We are committed to enabling outstanding futures for all children through a portfolio of inclusive, high-quality independent and international schools.