Winchester College - Procurement Manager

Summary

Winchester College is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead and manage the school’s end-to-end procurement activities.

Detail

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROCUREMENT MANAGER

The role will engage with a wide range of stakeholders across academic, pastoral, and operational departments. They will act as a central point of expertise for all procurement activities, ensuring delivery of value for money through robust supplier management, strategic sourcing, contract management, and procurement governance. The role will be predominantly office based in Winchester, with some hybrid working available. A full or part time contract would be considered to fit the right candidate. The role will report to the Director of Finance and sit within the Finance function of the College.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Governance

Develop and implement a school-wide procurement strategy aligned to the school’s financial, operational, and educational objectives.

Establish and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and financial controls consistent with charity governance requirements and the school’s Scheme of Delegation.

Lead category strategies (e.g., estates, IT, facilities, transport, teaching resources).

Ensure all purchasing activity supports value for money through competitive processes, total cost of ownership, and whole-life considerations.

Tendering & Contract Management

Manage tender processes, including preparation of specifications, evaluation criteria, negotiation, and award recommendations.

Develop and maintain central contracts register, ensuring timely renewals and robust contract performance monitoring.

Negotiate commercial terms that protect the school’s interests, including service levels, KPIs, pricing mechanisms, warranties, and safeguarding clauses.

Supplier Relationship Management

Develop structured supplier relationship management mechanisms across strategic suppliers.

Conduct formal performance reviews, ensuring delivery against service levels and agreed outcomes.

Strengthen resilience in the supply chain and proactively manage risks such as single‑supplier dependency, cost volatility, and ESG compliance.

Financial & Data Management

Work closely with Finance to align procurement plans with the annual budget, estate development plan, and long-term financial strategy.

Deliver cost savings and cost‑avoidance initiatives, tracking results and preparing reports for senior leadership and governors.

Use data analytics to identify spending patterns, consolidation opportunities, and areas for improved buying discipline, including analysis of credit card and expenses expenditure.

Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with operational heads (Estates, ICT, Sports, Operations, Academic departments) to understand demand and plan sourcing activity.

Provide expert advice and training to staff involved in purchasing or contract management.

Act as the school’s subject-matter expert on procurement matters for SLT, Trustees, and Finance Committee.

Compliance, Risk & Safeguarding

Ensure procurement activity complies with legal and regulatory requirements, including charity law, data protection, and safeguarding due diligence.

Conduct supplier vetting, dispute resolution, and contract variations in line with the school’s policies.

Sustainability & ESG

Drive sustainable procurement initiatives aligned to the school’s environmental goals.

Embed social value within procurement decisions, including ethical sourcing and responsible supply chains.

PERSON SPECIFICATION AND KEY QUALITIES

Essential

Professional procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS Level 5/6) or equivalent experience.

Demonstrated experience in strategic procurement, tendering, and contract management including retendering and implementation of software platforms.

Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships with diplomacy and clarity.

Strong negotiation, analytical, and project-management skills.

Understanding of charity governance, audit requirements, or regulated procurement environments.

Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.

Desirable

Experience in education, not-for-profit, or multi-site organisations.

Knowledge of capital project procurement and estates/facilities categories.

Experience implementing procurement systems or spend-control processes.

Start Date - Flexible start date for the right candidate with preference for commencement as soon as possible.

Hours of Work - This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, and such other hours as are reasonably necessary to meet the needs of the College and the demands of the role. A part time role of 0.6-0.8 FTE may be considered for a more experienced candidate.

Salary - A Salary of £45,000 is available for this role. A part time engagement would be considered for more senior candidates. Salary is paid monthly, in arrears, to a nominated back account in 12 equal payments.