Procurement Manager (Maternity Cover)

About the Directorate

Procurement Services sits within the University's Finance and Procurement Directorate and operates as a centralised function dedicated to ensuring the University achieves value for money in all its procurement activities.

About the Department

The team acts as a centre of excellence, offering guidance and support to colleagues across the institution on how to procure goods, services, and works effectively and responsibly. Our role is not only to manage costs but also to ensure that procurement decisions align with the University's broader strategic goals.

From August 2024, the University was no longer classified as a public authority under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, however, it continues to uphold high standards of procurement practice, recognising its responsibilities as an exempt charity and a recipient of public funds. This means that while it is no longer legally bound by certain public procurement rules, it remains committed to transparency, fairness, and ethical sourcing.

The Manchester Met Procurement strategy supports the University's five strategic themes and encourages colleagues to consider sustainability, social value, and ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions. The strategy also promotes collaboration with suppliers and internal stakeholders to reduce risk and improve supply chain resilience.

Procurement at Manchester Met is about more than just buying - it's about making informed, responsible choices that support the institution's mission and values.

About the Team

There are 13 people in the Procurement Team; the Director of Procurement is the strategic lead of the department and the Head of Procurement manages the operational aspects of the department. The Procurement Manager reports into the Head of Procurement and manages a team of four Category Managers. The team includes a Systems Manager, who manages a team of four Administrators. There is also a Procurement Data Analyst within the team.

About the Role

The Procurement Manager covering maternity for our colleague, will manage the team of Category Managers, providing support and guidance, and ensuring objectives are met. The role includes being responsible for a specific procurement category, which requires understanding and analysis of category spend patterns, development of a category strategy and tendering of contracts.

Key Skills & Experiences

Your track record of demonstrating value for money and service improvement should speak for itself. You will be capable of influencing buyer behaviours, in particular the route to market, the procurement process and expected outcomes, complimented by strong analytical and contract management skills. The successful candidate will have experience of managing complex projects and knowledge of the Public Contract Regulations. CIPS membership would be an advantage, and you will certainly be familiar with evolving legislation and best practice.

Key Responsibilities

The Procurement Manager will be responsible for their own procurement category and required to work with internal and external stakeholders to:

• develop and embed a category strategy and;
• establish supplier contracts that deliver cost savings and benefits,
• whilst remaining compliant with University policies and procedures.

As Line Manager to the team of Category Managers, you will be required to create development plans to highlight and address gaps in training or areas for growth, which will feed into their annual Professional Development Reviews (PDRs).

To learn more about this exciting opportunity and benefits we offer, please read the JD and Candidate Pack provided below.

Assessment Process

• To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing your suitability, on the application portal.
• For informal enquiries, about this vacancy, please contact Jenny Lever on

If you would like to join our people and share our ambition, we would love to hear from you!

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we sometimes close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.