Senior Contract & Procurement Manager

Description:

Senior Contract & Procurement Manager

???? Location: Derby / Derbyshire Area (with travel across multiple sites)
???? Salary: Up to £54,000 per annum (negotiable)
???? Contract: Permanent, Full-Time (37 hours per week, all year round)
???? Start Date: September 2026

Help Make Every Pound Count

Tradewind Recruitment are working in partnership with a large and growing education organisation across the Derbyshire area to recruit an experienced and commercially minded Senior Contract & Procurement Manager.

This is a newly created leadership position offering the opportunity to drive procurement strategy, improve supplier performance, and ensure the effective use of resources across a diverse portfolio of educational settings. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering value for money while supporting the wider operational and strategic objectives of the organisation.

The Role

Reporting directly into a senior leadership team, you will lead the development and implementation of a robust procurement and contract management strategy across multiple sites.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading procurement and tendering exercises across the organisation
Reviewing, managing, and optimising supplier contracts
Developing and implementing a comprehensive contract management framework
Negotiating commercial agreements that deliver tangible value and measurable outcomes
Building effective relationships with suppliers and key stakeholders
Driving efficiencies and identifying opportunities for cost savings
Monitoring supplier performance and ensuring service standards are maintained
Supporting the mobilisation and management of large-scale service contracts
Providing expert procurement and commercial advice to leaders across the organisation

About You

We are interested in speaking with candidates from both education and commercial backgrounds who have experience in:

Procurement and purchasing
Commercial or supplier management
Contract management
Strategic sourcing and commissioning
Tendering and procurement compliance
Stakeholder engagement and relationship managementYou will be a confident communicator with strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence at all levels. You will have a proactive approach to problem-solving, excellent project management capabilities, and a track record of delivering commercial improvements and efficiencies.

Experience working within the education sector would be advantageous but is not essential.

What's On Offer?

✅ A newly created strategic leadership role

✅ The opportunity to shape procurement and commercial operations across a large organisation

✅ Competitive salary with scope for negotiation

✅ The chance to deliver meaningful improvements and long-term value

✅ A supportive, collaborative, and ambitious leadership environment

✅ Career development opportunities within a growing organisation

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially focused procurement professional looking to make a genuine impact within a values-led organisation. You'll have the autonomy to influence strategy, improve service delivery, and help ensure resources are used effectively to support positive outcomes for young people and communities.

To apply, or for a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Tradewind Recruitment today on (url removed)

Tradewind Recruitment is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and references