Procurement Systems 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 that 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. The Manchester Met Procurement team supports the University's strategy 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, whilst the Head of Procurement manages the operational aspects of the department. The Procurement Systems Manager reports into the Head of Procurement and forms part of the Management Team. The role has four direct reports (System Administrators). Additionally, in the team there is a Procurement Manager (who leads the Category Manager team) and a Data Analyst.

About the Role

The Procurement Systems Manager provides leadership to the team of System Administrators, providing support and guidance to ensure that system service standards are met consistently. The role is responsible for managing the University's supplier database, in terms of on-boarding and vetting of suppliers. The Procurement Systems Manager is the key contact for liaison with the IT and Digital Service and Support Teams, and the University Finance Team. This is a fixed term, maternity cover position.

Key Skills & Experiences

The ideal candidate will have a background in customer service, and experience managing a Finance and Procurement System. Experience with Oracle Cloud and managing a team would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

The Procurement Systems Manager will lead on the Supplier Strategy, ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to at all times during the supplier request and on-boarding process. Lead on ensuring SLAs are met with regard to service standards, and support the Procurement Systems team to proactively identify trends in queries and understand their root cause. As Line Manager to the team of System Administrators, 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).

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 .

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 all local and international communities, including 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.