Procurement and Contracts Manager

The Harris Federation have an exceptional opportunity for a qualified and experienced professional to join us and work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver operational excellence within our corporate services function.

We are seeking to recruit a Procurement and Contracts Manager who has strong negotiation skills; is able to think strategically and effectively assess and manage risk. The Procurement and Contracts Manager will work as part of the Federation’s Commercial Team and will use their experience to oversee all procurement and contract management across the Federation, thus supporting our academies to provide the best possible education for our 36,000 children with the resources available.

Reporting to the Head of Procurement and working alongside our academy based teams we require an individual who is a great team player, has excellent communication skills and has a flexible approach to work.

The role will be based in our head office in Croydon. We are interested to hear from qualified professionals that have gained experience ideally in Education or a similar industry.

About Us

The Harris Federation is a leading large multi-academy trust in England for primary and secondary education.  Our Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex are making a  significant difference to the life chances of young people and our mission is to ensure that every student in a Harris Academy receives an outstanding education.  With 51 academies in and around London, over 4,000 staff and 38,000 students, we are a successful and thriving organisation.  Our people are at the heart of our success.   

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Working with the Head of Procurement, develop and implement the procurement strategy for the Federation, analysing and interpreting spend data and information from academies in line with the Federation’s vision and values
• Ensure that the Federation has appropriate procurement policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with current Public Contracts Regulations and The Academies Trust Handbook
• Maintain an accurate and up to date register of all live contracts across the Federation
• Provide oversight and guidance to support effective management of contracts and take responsibility for the management of key Federation or regional level contracts, such as catering (including regular quality assurance meetings)
• Manage procurement processes and lead procurement related projects in order to deliver compliant and effective outcomes for the Federation
• To lead on tenders and EU procurement, where applicable, to ensure adherence to procurement legislation
• Provide system and procedural training to key Federation and academy based staff to promote good practice and reduce risk to the Federation
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues who undertake low level procurement activities to ensure compliance with Federation procedures and legislative requirements, ensuring value for money

Qualifications & Experience

• A degree and/or professional qualification relevant to the post and/or equivalent learning through professional experience
• Member, or working towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS)
• A minimum of three years’ experience of leading and managing a range of compliant procurement activities, including drafting tender and contract documentation to effectively manage commercial risk
• Experience of undertaking analysis of spend, markets, supplier trends and capabilities
• Experience of supplier due diligence and auditing to ensure suppliers meet the high ethical standards in line with the vision and values of the Federation
• Experience of awarding and managing contracts across a range of goods, works and services to ensure the Federation receives value for money during the life of the contract.
• Experience of providing advice and support to colleagues at all levels on good practice in contracting and purchasing

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact careers@harrisfederation.org.uk to arrange a conversation with the Director.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.