Job Description

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.