Strategic Public Sector Procurement Manager (Hybrid)

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

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.