Head of Procurement

Ark Schools, London, W12 7TF

22 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  7 April 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  16 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum dependent on experience

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Head of Procurement will be responsible for ensuring that the for money in all areas of significant spend. They will implement effective procurement solutions that ensure pupils and staff are able to access equipment and services that meet their needs, are compliant with public sector procurement rules and provide value for money.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership and Value for Money

• Own and deliver the Trust’s procurement strategy, defining which categories of spend are best managed centrally and which are delegated to schools.
• Identify and deliver significant savings by providing procurement solutions across all areas of material spend while improving service quality and outcomes for schools.

Governance, Compliance and Assurance

• Oversee all procurement tenders over £50,000, supporting and training schools to manage their own tenders where appropriate, whilst being responsible for central tenders over £50,000.

Supplier, contract and framework management

• Lead on key supplier management, including overseeing the control of new suppliers and the development of strategies to help manage preferred supplier networks throughout the group.

Stakeholder engagement and network leadership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including senior leaders in schools and central teams, supplier sand customers, acting as a trusted adviser on procurement matters.
• Represent the Trust externally, including participation in MAT procurement networks to look at ways large MATs can work together to share best practice.

Team leadership, reporting and continuous improvement

• Manage and develop the Procurement team, setting clear priorities and performance expectations.
• Report on procurement savings and efficiencies, including annual reporting to the Risk & Audit Committee and termly updates to the Management Team.

You will have:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• MCIPS or other relevant qualification in Procurement and Supply (Desirable)
• Significant experience in procurement leadership, ideally within a multi-site public sector, charity or education environment.
• Strong background in supplier relationship and contract management.
• Demonstrable experience managing tender processes, negotiating contracts, and delivering cost saving.
• Experience managing and developing a procurement team.

What the school offers its staff

• • Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
  • In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
  • Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
  • 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
  • Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
  • As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
  • Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
  • Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

All employees must undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Head of Procurement JD March 2026.pdf - 134 KB (opens in new tab)

About Ark Schools

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Ark Schools website
• Email address: recruitment@arkonline.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/ark-schools

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 28,500 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

Head office location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in London