Head of Supplier Management

About Procurement

The Central Procurement Office (CPO) sits within the Directorate of Finance and is a professional resource tasked with assisting colleagues across the University to follow good practice and deliver value for money. To deliver our teaching, research and operational activities the University spends around £600m annually across a wide range of categories and suppliers.

The Team

The CPO is a small team of 20 that provides strategic guidance and operational support for procurement activity across the University. Our vision is to provide a quality service through excellent processes that support the Universities strategic goals and priorities and by working with colleagues across the organisation to deliver outcomes that represent value for money.

The Role

This is a new strategic role to oversee contract and supplier management practices across the University. Initially the role will focus on supporting colleagues within the Directorate of Estates to develop new and comprehensive procedures to monitor, manage contracts and develop supplier relationship practice. Once established, and in place, the approach will be rolled out to directorates across the University.

Suitable for experienced contract and supplier managers. Ideal for qualified professionals (MCIPS or similar) with a thorough understanding of how contract and supplier management fits within the overall procurement cycle.

You will be a confident professional capable of managing and prioritising workloads, liaising with a range of colleagues, and providing contractual, commercial and professional support to colleagues and users across the University. Experience of engaging a wide range of stakeholders within a devolved complex, diverse and dynamic environment would be advantageous.

You will work within the University's Financial Regulations, Procedures and Purchasing Policy. You should understand the role of procurement in delivering value, managing risk and supporting colleagues to do this. You will ideally have experience of driving the delivery of social value outcomes through the tender process and embedding these within contracts.

You will assist in exploring spend to identify opportunities to work smarter and/or save money working with end users to deliver changes through a variety of procurement methods: tendering, contract improvements, supplier rationalisation etc. You will be confident in building relationships and proactive in identifying opportunities across contract and supplier management.

You will be joining a friendly, professional and established team who will offer support and development opportunities to further progress your career.

The University currently supports hybrid working. It is expected that, following an initial period of familiarisation, that this role will be hybrid. For hybrid posts flexibility is required and employees should physically attend the University at least 2 days per week.

The Person
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant work experience and a degree/professional qualification in supplier management, procurement, or supply chain management, with at least 3 years in a senior role.
• Experience of working within complex, diverse and devolved organisations.
• Experience of understanding, working with and managing a range of contracts/suppliers ensuring delivery, reporting and management of risk throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to procurement and supply chain.
• Knowledge of managing third-party risk and using Third Party Risk Management (TPRM)/Vendor Risk Management (VRM)/Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) systems.
• Excellent team building skills, with the ability to persuade, motivate and inspire confidence across a diverse range of colleagues managing a variety of suppliers/contracts.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities, with the capacity to engage with individuals at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess risks, identify trends, and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Proven experience in driving strategic initiatives and projects related to supplier/contract management.

Interviews

Interviews will take place, following candidate shortlisting, ideally in person on the University Campus towards the end of May or early June. You should indicate any dates around that time you are not available for interview when you submit your application. Full details to follow as part of the invitation to interview.

As well as a competitive salary; working for an internationally recognised University; you can expect in return:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 29 days plus bank holidays;
• Closure between the Christmas and New Year periods - this is in addition to your annual leave entitlement;
• Access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme; supporting your physical, mental and financial health;
• Leading pension schemes, travel season ticket loans, workplace nursery, staff networking group discounts for all the family to enjoy and so much more.
• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth and development.

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a centre of teaching excellence, world-class research, outstanding student experience, and social responsibility. Part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, it's institutions like ours that have the greatest responsibility to act as the world faces big challenges. Together, we face this head on.

Founded in 1824 for the advancement of education, we've since been home to 25 Nobel Prize winners and worked across disciplinary and geographic boundaries to give the world new ideas, discoveries and innovations.

Inspired by and connected with our city - the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, home to an iconic arts, music and culture scene, and now the driving force of the Northern Powerhouse scheme - Manchester remains at the heart of everything we do.

We've been making an impact since day one; from creating the world's first nuclear reaction, to building the modern computer, isolating graphene, pioneering development economics, and transforming cancer diagnosis and treatment across the world. And it doesn't stop there - our teaching and learning approach creates life-changing student experiences, inspires lifelong learning and shapes exceptional graduate outcomes for global citizens of the future.

As we enter our third century, we're not letting anything stand in our way as we continue to tackle the world's biggest problems with unbreakable resolve.

Our facts and figures

We're ranked the 6th best university in the UK and 52nd overall in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2024).

A truly international university, our community includes more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff, and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries working together to tackle the world's biggest challenges.

Our commitment to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals is unmatched. That's why we're the only university in the world to rank in the top ten for social and environmental impact in every year of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Our university is a powerhouse of research and discovery; we were ranked fifth for research power - the quality and scale of research and impact - in the UK government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

The institution is the most popular in the UK for undergraduate applications (UCAS 2023 cycle), and it is the second most targeted university by the UK's leading employers (The Graduate Market, 2024).

When completing the additional information section of your application, please ensure you make reference to the job description and person specification above, as this will form an integral part of the shortlisting process.

As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working - you can find out more here

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the role on:

Name: Ian Jarvey

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General enquiries:

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