Procurement Manager

Witherslack Group; Carnforth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading special education provider in the UK is seeking a Procurement Manager to enhance their procurement strategy. You will manage tenders, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, while liaising with various stakeholders. This role requires proven experience in procurement management and strong negotiation skills. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £50,000 and an excellent benefits package, reflecting the company's commitment to quality care and education for young people.

Benefits

Salary: Base salary of up to £50,000

Training: CIPS course after probation

7 weeks' holiday

Flexible benefits package

Wellbeing tools and advice

Medical cover

Beautiful working environments

Recommend a friend scheme

Qualifications

• Experience with multi-site organisations, preferably in education sector.
• Ability to manage tenders from start to finish.
• Strong negotiation skills and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage tender documentation.
• Organise meetings related to contracts.
• Liaise with stakeholders and provide procurement advice.
• Carry out administrative tasks using IT systems.

Skills

Proven procurement management experience

Negotiating commercial contract terms

Project management capability

Stakeholder focus

Identifying procurement risks

Organisational and reporting skills

Job description

Salary: Up to £50,000 depending on experience

We are looking for someone who will support the deliverance of smart procurement decisions, organisational strategy and ensure a high degree of ethical and best value for money is achieved, across all spend activities.

Those huge small victories

We are the highest Ofsted-rated provider in the country for special education and care. Our teams are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things.

For children with complex needs the level of care and education we provide must go above and beyond. That's what drives us here at Witherslack Group. With our high staff-to-child ratio and in‑house clinical teams, we're proud to have won a reputation for excellence and market‑leading OFSTED ratings.

Get out what you put in

This is an exciting group wide role where you will get the chance to continue the growth of our procurement strategy. Reporting directly into our Head of Procurement and working with internal and external stakeholders, you will help to review our current practices and implement our approach to procurement. As a Procurement Manager for Witherslack Group you will ensure compliance with procurement regulations and identify savings and benefits for the group.

You will effectively support in the management of a range of stakeholders within Witherslack Group, leading the development, planning and implementation of a strategy that optimises value for money, enabling our schools and homes continue to provide the best level of education and care to our young people.

Bring your whole-self to work

Here at Witherslack Group, we celebrate everyone's differences as that's what makes us the best at what we do. Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs - and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. We'll give you the chance to build an exciting career in a fast-growing organisation, where you're free to achieve your potential.

Here's what we need from you;

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage tender documentation and support evaluations.
• Organise and manage meetings (e.g., Tender Working Party, Contract Review).
• Maintain supplier documentation and contracts database.
• Liaise with stakeholders, respond to queries, and provide advice.
• Request benchmarking data from suppliers.
• Manage and update supplier contracts register; review spend reports.
• Support new procurement processes and communicate changes.
• Complete administrative tasks using Excel and other IT systems.
• Carry out other duties as directed by the Procurement Team.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness and promote company objectives.
• Attend relevant meetings and comply with policies.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Follow established practices, undertake training, and adapt to new systems.

Person Specification - Skills & Experience

• Proven procurement management experience within multi-site organisations (education sector desirable).
• Experience with negotiating commercial contract terms
• Ability to manage multiple categories and deliver the full end-to-end tender process.
• Strong stakeholder and end-user focus.
• Project management capability; commercially astute with excellent negotiation skills.
• Experience in service procurement, contract administration, and supplier management.
• Skilled in identifying procurement risks and applying appropriate tender models.
• Excellent organisational and reporting skills.

What we do for you

We know you're going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the care sector. With us, you'll get to make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people - plus you'll get:

• Salary: Base salary of up to £50,000
• Training: CIPS course (after successful completion of probation)
• Holiday: You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with 7 weeks' holiday
• Flexible benefits package: meaning you can increase/decrease your holiday allowance, pension and life insurance - check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time

Join the UK's best special education and care provider

Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve to have the career you want, with a purpose-led employer, in an environment that allows you to be yourself.

We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

To view our ex-offenders policy please click here.