Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the newly created role of Director of Procurement.

For 200 years, The University of Manchester has been a centre of teaching excellence, world-class research, outstanding student experience, and social responsibility.

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.  

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.  

We are seeking a high calibre procurement professional to lead the procurement function of the University and develop the procurement strategy. The role includes overseeing the systems and processes by which goods, services and works are procured to ensure that the University delivers value for money whilst managing legal and commercial risk across its entire portfolio of non-pay spend (over £500m pa). Key deliverables will include:

• Manage and promote the value of procurement within the University, making best use of the University’s position outside the public sector procurement regime, whilst leveraging consortia benefits where appropriate.

• Review and implement new procurement strategies, polices and processes across an exceedingly varied range of procurement activities, including facilities and property management for a portfolio of 183 buildings, IT contracts and highly technical scientific equipment to support our world-class research.

• Monitor and improve non-pay efficiency and contract compliance so that all categories of spend are actively managed.

• Provide procurement and commercial advice to colleagues, for both general issues and specific projects, including maximising social value in line with our core goal of social responsibility.

• Manage and develop the Central Procurement Office team of 20 + professionals.

• Represent the University and its interests at a range of local, regional and national procurement forums.

Your background is not important to us; a thorough understanding of the role of procurement and its relationship with other functions in a complex and diverse organisation is. This includes direct experience of a variety of category spend areas e.g. Estates, Technology, Property and Facilities, Support Services etc. to ensure that support and direction is provided across all key areas.

Professional competence and skill set ideally demonstrated by possession of an appropriate qualification e.g. Membership of the Chartered Institute of Supply.

Thank you for your interest in joining The University of Manchester. The University is a complex, fascinating and inspiring place to work, a place where you collaborate to make an impact on the world. The breadth of what we do will continues to amaze me and I hope this role and opportunity excites you too. It would be great to hear what skills you can bring! Please contact the Hays team initially to discuss the role.

With best wishes,

Carol Prokopyszyn
Chief Financial Officer

Additional information

To confidentially discuss the role in further detail please contact:

To apply

If you wish to be considered for this role, please upload your curriculum vitae, together with a duly completed Candidate Questionnaire. Please include specific examples of what you have personally been responsible for and achieved.

Campaign dates

Closing date for applications	27th November
Preliminary interview dates	6th and 9th December
Interview date	16th December
Interview location	Central Manchester

Key Documents

Candidate Questionnaire