Procurement & Contracts Manager

Start date

ASAP (subject to pre-start checks)

Contract term

Permanent

Working hours

30 hours per week (worked on weekdays)

The exact work pattern is negotiable. It could be, for example, Mondays to Thursdays 8.30am-4.30pm with a 30 min lunch break

Weeks per year

This role can be term-time or year-round (or somewhere between the two), depending on the successful candidate’s preference

Grade

11

Salary range

(per annum)

Support staff salary points 28 – 34

£39,152 to £45,091 (FTE)

£31,745 to £36,561 (pro rata based on 30 hours year-round)

£27,203 to £31,330 (pro rata based on 30 hours term time only)

Location

Hybrid working or fully office-based (at Twynham Learning Core Services, The Grange School, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 3AU)

Reports to

Director of Business & Finance

About the Post

We are looking to appoint a Procurement & Contracts Manager to join our professional and friendly Twynham Learning Core Services - “aka Head Office team”. This role can be fully office-based (in Christchurch Dorset) or hybrid (partly office and partly home-based).

We are Twynham Learning. A multi-academy trust comprised of five primary schools, three secondary schools, Bournemouth Bay Teacher Training Partnership, a branch of Dorset School Games and Two Rivers Institute. Our vision is to deliver a world class education system for our locality that challenges social injustice and provides opportunities irrespective of background. Our mission is to provide a strong framework of support across the BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) area, utilising our model of local networks, partnership and high expectations to deliver an increasingly ambitious vison for education. We are a values-driven, inclusive employer.

This is a brand new post in our structure, providing a rare and exciting opportunity for a talented and confident individual to shape and develop the role, starting from a blank canvass. We welcome applications from candidates who have honed their skills in the private sector, as well as those with relevant experience in the public sector.

We are looking for an outstanding individual who will relish the opportunity to:

·       Lead on our procurement – including setting strategy and a preferred supplier list, negotiating, ensuring trust-wide compliance and supporting large-scale procurement projects

·       Be responsible for contracts management – actively engaging with our suppliers to achieve best value, monitoring KPIs and supplier performance and making sure that risks and compliance are well managed

·       Work collaboratively with our schools and internal stakeholders to align procurement and contracts management to our strategic priorities and to champion best practice and best value/cost saving

·       Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in accordance with our Safeguarding and Child Protection policies.

What we can offer you

·       An opportunity to make a meaningful difference to our local communities and the lives of children and young people

·       29 days’ holiday leave per year, increasing to 34 days with service (pro rata for part timers)

·       Automatic membership of the Dorset Local Government Pension Scheme

·       Free, confidential access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which offers a range of counselling services plus financial, legal and practical support from qualified professionals on a range of personal issues and access to online health and wellbeing resources

·       A trust-wide intranet, where we share our news, information and resources

·       Local discounts negotiated on behalf of our staff e.g. gym memberships, hair and beauty salons, chiropractic care, cycle shops, restaurants, motoring services, and retail/DIY stores

·       Access to national discounts on a wide variety of huge brands

·       A welcoming staff room with complimentary tea and coffee available throughout the day

·       Free on-site parking

·       The opportunity to work within Twynham Learning; a progressive multi-academy trust

·       The opportunity to work in one of the most beautiful areas of the South Coast

Who we are looking for

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Have a successful track record of working in procurement/contracts management and driving benefits and savings for the organisation

• Have knowledge and understanding of public procurement regulations and compliance requirements

• Are highly skilled at negotiating contracts and supporting small-to-large scale procurements

• Have strong analytical skills and attention to detail, and are astute.

• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with successful experience of managing supplier relationships

• Are proficient in using procurement software and the Microsoft Office Suite

• Are organised, with an ability to work independently and prioritise effectively

• Are customer-focussed

• Are highly resilient and relentless in the pursuit of best value

• Can take accountability and ownership of procurement outcomes in a complex multi-stakeholder environment

You will also be keen to live our Twynham Learning employee values which are:

·       Aim high

·       Keep improving

·       Don’t leave anyone behind

·       See the bigger picture

Any questions?

To discuss the post or your application, please contact Vicky Elsworth on 01202 402789 or email us at recruitment@twynhamlearning.com

How to apply

To apply for this vacancy, please submit a Job Application Form and Diversity Questionnaire by email to: recruitment@twynhamlearning.com 

Only applications made using our own official application form will be accepted. You can download the form and questionnaire here:  twynhamlearning.com/187/staff-vacancies

The closing date for applications is Monday 9 March 2026 at 9am.