Procurement Specialist

Orchard Hill College; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in England is seeking a proactive Procurement Specialist to join their dynamic Procurement Team. This role involves leading supplier relationships, managing procurement exercises in compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, and optimizing procurement systems. The ideal candidate will possess a CIPS qualification and have strong analytical and stakeholder engagement skills. This position offers a full-time commitment of 36 hours per week, with some flexibility on working locations.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23).
• Proven experience in leading supplier relationships.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret data.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier relationship management with SLAs/KPIs.
• Manage end-to-end procurement exercises.
• Provide accurate reporting to support compliance.
• Maintain and optimise procurement systems.
• Drive category management improvements.

Skills

Supplier relationship management

Data analysis

Compliance reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Procurement strategy support

Education

CIPS qualification (or working towards)

Job description

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Monday – Friday, all year round. 2 or 3 days per week at Copthall House and also supplier visits necessary.

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education, operating across academies and college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. We support our academies and colleges through learning support services, nursing and therapy, and a central business support team which includes HR, finance and IT.

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded Procurement Specialist to join our dynamic Procurement Team. In this pivotal role, you will help support the delivery of our Procurement Strategy through effective supplier relationship management, robust compliance reporting, and high‑quality procurement support across the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong analytical skills, excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, and a genuine passion for procurement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead supplier relationship management, including implementing SLAs/KPIs and conducting regular supplier performance review meetings.
• Manage end‑to‑end procurement exercises (RFQs, tenders, benchmarking) in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and organisational procedures.
• Provide accurate reporting and data analysis to support compliance, cost‑saving identification, and strategic decision‑making.
• Maintain and optimise procurement systems, including e‑tendering and contract management platforms, ensuring data accuracy and efficient processes.
• Drive category management improvements, including ownership of the utilities category, purchase order scheduling, and delivering value‑for‑money outcomes.

Qualifications

• CIPS qualification (or working towards) with strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23).
• Proven experience leading supplier relationships and monitoring performance against SLAs and KPIs.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, able to interpret data and present insights confidently.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, with the confidence to work across teams and build productive supplier relationships.
• Proactive, reliable and adaptable, able to balance reactive tasks with planned work while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered. Closing Date: 19th December 2025.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.