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- Tasks: Join us as a Procurement Specialist, working directly with educational clients to enhance procurement processes.
- Company: Crescent Purchasing Consortium is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to excellence in public sector procurement.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holidays, bonuses, and a supportive environment for personal development.
- Why this job: Be part of an award-winning team making a real difference in the education sector while growing your career.
- Qualifications: We seek experienced procurement professionals with public sector knowledge and a passion for excellence.
- Other info: Apply by 29th August 2025; we value diversity and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.
The predicted salary is between 32400 - 46800 £ per year.
Are you seeking an exciting new step in Procurement and looking to make a difference in the Education Sector?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Procurement Specialist to join our expanding team and organisation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and we are interested in you as an individual. We are looking for a highly organised professional with a positive attitude, dedicated to achieving excellence in public sector procurement.
Who are we?
Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) is a not-for-profit purchasing consortium and we produce compliant purchasing frameworks and provide specialist advice on spending practices and value for money. Our longstanding history and dedication has earned CPC a reputation for excellence, which has allowed us to support public sector organisations with a combined non-pay spend of £441m throughout the 2023/24 financial year alone.
What\’s the role?
The role is offered as full- time position working with our clients based in the North West, Manchester and surrounding areas.
This role will require regular travel to our clients\’ premises and involves working onsite directly with our educational clients to provide a fully comprehensive procurement and tendering service. Successful applicants must be able to travel and must have public sector tendering experience.
This role sits within our Crescent Managed Services. They specialise in offering procurement consultancy services to the education sector. They offer bespoke procurement solutions to suit individual client needs and budgets, from one-off tendering to onsite managed services. Our aim is simply to be the best at what we do. You will be responsible for leading the process for procuring contracts for a variety of categories, including facilities, estates, finance, curriculum and ICT and other projects and services.
This role will contribute to embedding best practice, efficiency and effectiveness within procurement processes and decisions, ensuring compliance with UK procurement regulations and legislation and assisting us to achieve savings.
Reporting to the Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for offering a proactive and comprehensive service and advice on all aspects of procurement to all levels of personnel and manage relationships between our client and their diverse range of suppliers.
What makes us different?
We\’re an award-winning organisation recognised and certified as a \”Great place to work\”. We offer a collaborative, exciting environment where your ideas are heard and valued. We provide competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for career development. We\’re making a real
difference and you can be a part of it! This is just the beginning, we\’re constantly growing and evolving and we\’re always looking for passionate individuals who share our vision!
This is just the beginning, we\’re constantly growing and evolving and we\’re always looking for passionate individuals who share our vision!
Person Specification
We are looking for someone who has extensive procurement experience within the public sector or the education sector and knowledge of public sector procurement legislation. If you are a skilled and an experienced procurement professional with the ability to deliver all aspects of this role, then we would love to hear from you!
In return for your dedication, we offer a wide range of benefits including:
- Salary of up to £45,000 FTE per annum depending on experience.
- Generous yearly discretionary bonuses following successful probation.
- Hybrid working with visits to clients onsite when required.
- Access to a local government pension scheme which includes death-in-service and ill health.
- Opportunities to develop through our inhouse development programmes and through external learning with full support given to achieve MCIPS.
- 38 days holiday (including three days additional leave for Christmas holiday closure and bank holidays).
- Time off for volunteering opportunities.
- Enhanced leave packages such as paid sickness, carers leave, bereavement and compassionate leave and maternity pay.
- Support for wellbeing with access to 8 mental health first aiders and the opportunity to join an Employee Assistance Programme.
- The chance to get involved in a number of working groups, such as Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Wellbeing and Sustainability.
- The opportunity to join our Women\’s, Men\’s and Carer\’s employee support networks which provide safe spaces for colleagues to share their experiences.
- Social and employee events throughout summer and at Christmas.
- Has a programme of \’giving back\’ to the communities in which it is based and which it supports.
- Travel expenses paid for any additional required travelling outside of your contracted place of work.
Next Steps
The deadline to apply is Friday 29th August 2025.
Following successful application, we will invite selected candidates to meet for an in-person interview with our hiring managers at our head office in Salford.
If you like what you\’ve read, please don\’t delay in applying as we may close vacancies early where we receive lots of applications. Please click on the link below for the job description.
https://www.thecpc.ac.uk/docs/procurement-specialist-jd-manchesterpdf
Please note that VISA sponsorship is not offered for this role.
We are a disability confident employer so if you need any adjustments made to support your application, for example, if you require information in different formats or if you have any accessibility issues, we\’re more than happy to review our processes. Please feel free to get in touch with us at peopledevelopment@thecpc.ac.uk.
As an equal opportunities employer, Crescent Purchasing Consortium is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Procurement Specialist employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific procurement regulations and legislation relevant to the public sector, especially in education. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to compliance and best practices.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the education procurement sector. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities within organisations like ours.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in public sector procurement during the interview. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships and delivered value for money in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of the unique challenges faced by educational institutions in procurement. Tailor your conversation to highlight how your skills can directly address these challenges and contribute to our mission at Crescent Purchasing Consortium.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant procurement experience, especially within the public sector or education. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in managing supplier relationships and compliance with procurement regulations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for procurement and your understanding of the education sector. Mention how your values align with the organisation's commitment to inclusivity and excellence.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise skills such as negotiation, contract management, and strategic sourcing. These are crucial for the role and should be clearly articulated in both your CV and cover letter.
Showcase Your Achievements: Include quantifiable achievements in your application, such as cost savings you have achieved in previous roles or successful projects you have led. This will help demonstrate your impact and effectiveness as a Procurement Specialist.
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Procurement Legislation
Make sure you brush up on public sector procurement legislation before the interview. Being able to discuss relevant laws and regulations will show your expertise and understanding of the field, which is crucial for a Procurement Specialist role.
✨Demonstrate Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that highlight your procurement experience, especially within the education sector. Discuss how you've successfully managed contracts and relationships with suppliers, as this will resonate well with the hiring managers.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
As a Procurement Specialist, being organised is key. Be ready to talk about how you manage multiple projects and deadlines. You might even want to share tools or methods you use to stay on top of your tasks, as this will demonstrate your proactive approach.
✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Spirit
Crescent Purchasing Consortium values collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you work effectively in teams. Share examples of how you've contributed to a positive team environment and how you handle conflicts or differing opinions.
