Procurement Specialist

Salary: Grade 6/SO1 £34,487 - £39,268 per annum Location: Copthall House, 9 The Pavement, Grove Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1DA Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Monday – Friday, all year round. 2 or 3 days per week at Copthall House and also supplier visits necessary. Overview Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education. We operate across academies and college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. Supporting our academies and college, OHC&AT also operates learning support services, such as nursing and therapy, and a central business support team which includes HR, finance and IT. Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. These include autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health needs; profound and multiple learning disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health conditions. Key Responsibilities Lead supplier relationship management, including implementing SLAs/KPIs and conducting regular supplier performance review meetings. Manage end-to-end procurement exercises (RFQs, tenders, benchmarking) in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and organisational procedures. Provide accurate reporting and data analysis to support compliance, cost‑saving identification, and strategic decision‑making. Maintain and optimise procurement systems, including e‑tendering and contract management platforms, ensuring data accuracy and efficient processes. Drive category management improvements, including ownership of the utilities category, purchase order scheduling, and delivering value‑for‑money outcomes. Key Requirements CIPS qualification (or working towards) with strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). Proven experience leading supplier relationships and monitoring performance against SLAs and KPIs. Strong analytical and reporting skills, able to interpret data and present insights confidently. Excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, with the confidence to work across teams and build productive supplier relationships. Proactive, reliable and adaptable, able to balance reactive tasks with planned work while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail. Rewards & Benefits Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment. Pension Scheme – enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family. Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme). Employee Wellbeing – counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme. Employee Discounts – Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more. Other – Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme. Application details To apply for this role, please click “Fast Apply”, you will then be directed to a “Login” page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form. Please note that CV applications cannot be considered. To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered. Closing Date: 19th December 2025 Interviews will take place on: The week commencing 5th January 2026 We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. #J-18808-Ljbffr