Procurement & Contracts Manager

Overview

We are looking to recruit an experience procurement professional to work within our trust to deliver value, integrity and sustainability to our community.

The successful person will help develop a commercial trust sustainability strategy and have experience of delivering diverse tenders over a multi-year period. The successful candidate will be hands-on throughout the tender cycle from design to contract management.

You will develop and contribute to a system review to support eProcurement and automated Invoicing process deliver effective sourcing that align with our core values.

The successful candidate will be a key contact for two DfE school rebuild projects in delivering quality furniture and finishes to the new schools.

You will be supportive of our strategic priorities:

• SO1 Developing Exceptional Learners
• SO2 Recruiting, developing and retaining Expert Professionals
• SO3 Achieving excellence of operational infrastructure; operating efficient and effective systems; and maintaining and improving places
• SO4 Building empowered communities and developing lasting partnerships to support the development of social justice.

The post holder will be expected to work within established procedures and guidelines and to prioritise day-to-day work. May from time to time be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility defined in this job description.

Your role as a key member of the Central Services Team within the Trust, under the direction of the Head of Finance, will contribute to the development of, and support on, service team strategy and planning.

The role of our Procurement & Contracts Manager requires:

• ➢ experience of Procurement policy development, implementation, consultation, and maintenance which promote quality and sustainability.
• ➢ Clear strategic thinking and the ability to see initiatives through to the end
• ➢ Good project management and administration skills
• ➢ Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• ➢ Proficiency in data manipulation and presentation

As required, along with all Managers in our Trust, the post will support the interests of all learners within the eleven schools currently within the Central Regional Schools Trust, as well as potential future schools.

Job Purpose

• To work within our trust to deliver value, integrity, and sustainability to our community.
• To help develop a commercial trust sustainability strategy and have experience of delivering diverse tenders over a multi-year period.
• To be hands-on throughout the tender cycle from design to contract management.
• Develop and contribute to a system review to support eProcurement and automated Invoicing process deliver effective sourcing that align with our core values.
• To be a key contact for a DfE school rebuild project in delivering quality furniture and finishes to the new school.
• You will be supportive of our strategic priorities.

The post holder will be expected to work within established procedures and guidelines and to prioritise day-to-day work. May from time to time be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility defined in this job description.

You will contribute to the development of, and support on, service team strategy and planning.

As required, along with all Managers in our Trust, the post will support the interests of all learners within the eleven schools currently within the Central Regional Schools Trust, as well as potential future schools.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Delivery of best practice customer management through the tender and award process ensuring effective handover into contract management.
• To support the development and implementation of procurement policies and system strategies to support tendering, contracts management, spend analytics and supplier performance management.
• To drive continuous improvement, best value, and quality improvements within schools in challenging existing practices and actively seek ways to achieve better outcomes.
• Working with schools and other key trust stakeholders to review and ensure that procurement of goods and services are compliant and provide excellent value for money.
• To keep under review top suppliers and contracts of the trust and trust schools (including maximum value gained from existing)
• Identifying, and appreciation of, opportunities that represent Social Value and contribute to our communities.
• To review the Procurement processes (where value referred within Policies and Procedures) and propose updates ensuring sustainability into the future.
• Supporting due diligence work on potential new academies, conducting analysis, and assessing risk.
• To report to the CFO, senior executives, trustees as required up-to-date status reports on procurement, for example development, value, savings, opportunities, performance data, compliance with regulations and Academy Trust Handbook.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with policies and external requirements such as OJEU that’s safeguard contractual and commercial risk.
• To develop excellent relationships with key stakeholders and external providers
• Implementation and use of appropriate frameworks such as government commercial educational accessible frameworks (i.e CPC, ESPO, YPO, etc)
• Produce a multiyear prioritised tender programme to meet the demands of schools and the trust.
• Develop and contribute to systems review to support eProcurement and automated Invoicing process.
• Embed commercial awareness and promotion of importance of procurement across the trust through training and delivery of a professional service to the trust and schools.
• Work within the relevant principles, policies, procedures, and culture of our trust.