TwS Contracts Service Lead

Permanent, Part Time 14.8 hours per week.

Are you an experienced procurement or contract management professional looking to make a difference in education across Bristol? Do you thrive on leading services, developing strong customer relationships, and ensuring value for money? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive and skilled School Contracts Service Lead to provide strategic leadership to our Trading with Schools (TwS) Contracts Service. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring schools and educational settings receive high‑quality procurement and contract management support, compliant with legislation and best practice.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a service that directly improves outcomes for schools, strengthens value for money, and influences how procurement is delivered across the city’s education landscape.

What You’ll Do

As the TwS School Contracts Service Lead, you will:

• Lead on the procurement and contract management of school contracts, ensuring they are legal, fit for purpose, and deliver value for money.
• Act as the specialist expert for TwS and school leaders, providing high‑quality advice and guidance at all levels.
• Develop and deliver procurement plans that align with TwS strategic objectives.
• Lead on contract monitoring and performance, ensuring customer needs are consistently met.
• Manage and deliver project work across the procurement lifecycle.
• Undertake market research and present findings to support informed decision‑making.
• Identify training needs and deliver procurement and contract management workshops for educational settings.
• Contribute to the financial objectives of TwS by building an efficient, customer‑focused service.
  
  

You will manage a team, providing leadership, direction, and development to maintain a high‑performing service.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has strong expertise in procurement and/or contract management.
• Can confidently interpret legislation, policy, and best practice.
• Provides high‑quality professional advice to a range of stakeholders.
• Delivers excellent customer service and builds trusted relationships.
• Leads teams effectively and supports service improvement initiatives.
• Is highly organised, solutions‑focused, and able to deliver complex projects.

Experience working within education or public sector procurement is desirable but not essential.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

Joining us means becoming part of a forward‑thinking organisation that values:

• Flexibility and hybrid working
• Inclusive leadership and valuing diversity
• Professional development and training opportunities
• A strong culture of collaboration and innovation

 

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For further information please contact Sue Finch, TwS Finance and Resource Manager, sue.finch@bristol.gov.uk / 07825 315717.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit. 

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.