Procurement Manager

Sellick Partnership; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive annual leave entitlement

LGPS pension scheme

Co-op colleague membership

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Professional development

Job summary

Co-op Academies Trust in Manchester is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead strategic procurement and contract management across the Trust. You will drive supplier arrangements, governance, and value-for-money across multiple academies, reporting to the Finance Director.

The role requires CIPS or equivalent, degree-level experience, and a strong background in public sector procurement, with hybrid on-site and remote working options. Salary reflects UK standards for senior procurement roles.

Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent experience.
• CIPS qualified or working towards CIPS, or another relevant qualification.
• Procurement experience 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.
• Knowledge of ESG and sustainable procurement principles would be beneficial.
• Commitment to co-operative values, British Values and the Ways of Being Co-op.

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 document, 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.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Public sector procurement knowledge

Education

Degree level or equivalent

CIPS qualification or in progress

Tools

e-tendering portals

e-sourcing portals

Job description

Procurement Manager

Salary: £56,710 - £61,206 per annum

Location: 1 Angel Square, Manchester/hybrid working (2 days on-site per week)

Contract: Permanent, 37 hours FTE

Closing date: 23:59pm, Monday 20 July 2026

Overview of the Procurement Manager role

Sellick Partnership is currently partnered with Co-op Academies Trust to recruit a Procurement Manager. This is a strategic opportunity to lead procurement activity across a growing Multi Academy Trust, 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.

Key responsibilities of the Procurement Manager will include

• 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 document, 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

This list isn't exhaustive and the full job specification for this role can be provided upon request, which highlights further detail on each aspect of this role.

Required experience/qualifications of the Procurement Manager position will include

• 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
• Knowledge of ESG and sustainable procurement principles would be beneficial
• Commitment to co-operative values, British Values and the Ways of Being Co-op

Benefits available alongside the Procurement Manager position include (but aren't limited to):

• 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
• Wellbeing support, including mental health resources, Health Assured support, Wisdom Health and Wellbeing App and Mental Health First Aiders
• Occupational sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Free annual flu vaccination and free eye care tests
• Cycle to Work scheme and Nuffield Health gym membership discounts
• Professional development, induction, coaching and career progression opportunities

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Co-op Academies Trust, a values-led organisation sponsored by the Co-op Group. The Trust supports schools and communities across the North of England and is committed to creating exceptional pupil experiences, strong financial stewardship and fairer communities.

Synonyms: Procurement Lead, Category Manager, Commercial Manager, Contracts Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Senior Buyer, Public Sector Procurement Manager