Deputy Manager – Procurement & Commercial

Job purpose:
The Deputy Manager –
Procurement & Commercial will act as the second-in-command to
the Head/Manager of Procurement & Commercial and play a critical role in
driving procurement and commercial excellence across the organisation.

While the business portfolio
includes engineering & construction and other
ventures, the role will have a primary
focus on the education sector, supporting procurement for schools,
nurseries, and education support services,
ensuring cost efficiency, supply continuity, compliance, and value creation in
a highly service-driven environment.

The position will not only be
the second-in command who can operate strategically and tactically, step in for
the Head/Manager when required, and support the scaling and standardisation of
procurement practices across all business lines but will also be responsible to
manage assigned roles and responsibilities across the organisation within the
procurement & commercial function.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic & Leadership Support

Act as the deputy
to the Head of Procurement & Commercial, supporting strategic
planning, policy development, and execution.
Support long-term
procurement roadmaps aligned with organisational growth, particularly
within the education portfolio.
Contribute to
budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation initiatives.

Education-Focused
Procurement

Oversee and
manage procurement for schools and nurseries, including educational
materials, uniforms, catering, transport, facilities management, IT, and
support services.
Ensure
uninterrupted supply and service delivery during academic terms and peak
periods.
Work closely with
school leadership, academic teams, and operations to align procurement
with academic and operational requirements.
Ensure compliance
with education-sector standards, regulations, and safeguarding
requirements (where applicable).

Multi-Business & Project Procurement

Support
procurement activities for engineering & construction,
including materials, subcontractors, consultants, MEP works, and fit-out
projects.
Assist with
commercial evaluations, BOQs, tender reviews, and contract negotiations
for project-based procurement.
Balance
operational procurement needs with project-driven and capex procurement
requirements.

Commercial & Contract Management

Lead and support
commercial negotiations, contract reviews, renewals, and vendor
onboarding.
Ensure contracts,
SLAs, and pricing agreements are commercially robust and compliant.
Identify
opportunities for value engineering, cost efficiencies, and risk
mitigation.
Support dispute
resolution and commercial issue management with suppliers and contractors.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

Build and
maintain strategic supplier relationships, particularly for
education-critical categories.
Conduct supplier
performance reviews and lead improvement initiatives.
Partner closely
with Finance, Operations, Projects, and School Leadership Teams.
Act as a key
escalation point for procurement and commercial issues.

Governance, Controls & Reporting

Ensure adherence
to procurement policies, approval frameworks, and governance standards.
Support audits,
compliance reviews, and documentation requirements.
Prepare
management reports including spending analysis, savings reports, risk
assessments, and supplier dashboards.
Drive
standardisation of procurement processes across business units.

Team Development & Capability Building

Support and
mentor procurement team members.
Assist in
building procurement capability within the education business units.
Drive process
improvements, system adoption, and best-practice procurement behaviours.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree
in supply chain management, business administration, finance, engineering,
or related field.
Professional
certifications such as CIPS / MCIPS / CPSM are strongly preferred.
MBA or
postgraduate qualifications are an advantage.

Experience

8–12 years of experience in
procurement and commercial roles.
Proven experience
in a Deputy role within the procurement/commercial functions.
Strong experience
in education, facilities management, services-led environments, or
regulated sectors.
Exposure to engineering
& construction or project procurement is a strong advantage.
Experience
working in multi-business or group environments.

Skills & Competencies

Core Competencies

Strong leadership
presence with the ability to step into the Head/Manager role when
required.
Commercially
astute with strong negotiation and contract management skills.
Strategic thinker
with hands-on execution capability.

Functional Skills

Expertise in
education-sector procurement and services sourcing.
Solid
understanding of project and construction procurement principles.
Strong financial
and commercial analysis capability.

Behavioural & Interpersonal Skills

High level of
stakeholder influence and relationship management.
Ability to
balance competing priorities across business lines.
Detail-oriented,
structured, and governance-focused.
High integrity,
accountability, and professionalism.