Procurement Manager

Outcomes First Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme with flexible CONTRIBUT

Your Wellbeing Matters

Family Growth Support

Vista benefits

Job summary

Outcomes First Group, the UK's largest independent provider of specialist education and care, is seeking a Procurement Manager. This hybrid role is Bolton-based with office days and flexible hybrid working, offering a salary of £57,000–£70,000 per annum.

You will lead procurement across infrastructure, fleet and strategic suppliers, partner with Finance, IT and Operations, and shape category strategies to deliver cost savings and value for the group.

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.

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

Commercial negotiation

Contract management

Cost savings

Spend analytics

Stakeholder management

Project management

Procurement strategy

Governance & compliance

Education

CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation

Job description

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)

Salary: £57,000 - £70,000 per annum

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

Essential

• 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.

Desirable

• 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.

Benefits

• 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.