Procurement & Contracts Specialist

Position Type: Permanent, Part Time (20-25 hours per week) We are seeking an experienced Procurement & Contracts Specialist to lead procurement activities and strengthen contract governance across Toi Ohomai. This is a varied and influential role that combines procurement expertise with strong commercial and contract management capability. Working as part of the Finance and Infrastructure team, you will provide expert advice across the organisation on procurement, contract management, commercial risk, and governance. You will play a key role in developing consistent procurement practices, improving contract frameworks, and ensuring contracts are legally robust, commercially sound, and aligned with organisational policies and obligations. Lead procurement and tendering activities, including RFPs, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract development. Review, draft, negotiate, and manage supplier contracts, service agreements, and contract variations. Provide expert advice on legal, commercial, and contractual risks across a wide range of organisational agreements. Identify and mitigate contract and procurement risks while ensuring appropriate governance and compliance. Develop and maintain procurement systems, processes, templates, and frameworks that support best practice. Manage the full contract lifecycle, including renewals, performance monitoring, disputes, and supplier relationship management. Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to deliver effective procurement outcomes. Provide data-driven insights, cost optimisation opportunities, and procurement advice to support strategic decision-making. Ensure procurement and contract activities comply with relevant legislation, policies, and regulatory requirements. You are a commercially astute procurement professional who can confidently balance strategic thinking with operational delivery. You enjoy building strong relationships, influencing stakeholders, and delivering high-quality commercial outcomes. You will bring: A degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, Commerce, Law, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. Proven experience managing end-to-end procurement activities, ideally within a complex or public sector environment. Strong contract review, drafting, and negotiation experience. Sound knowledge of contract law principles, commercial risk, and governance frameworks. Demonstrated ability to identify, assess, and mitigate contractual and procurement risks. Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills. Strong commercial analysis and problem-solving capability. Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is the largest vocational education provider in the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato. Home to over 9,000 ākonga (students), we put ākonga and kaimahi at the centre of all we do. Through educational excellence, Māori success, strong partnerships, and sustainable practices, we enable our ākonga, institution, and communities to thrive. Toiohomaitanga describes our way of doing and being. It reflects how we care for each other, work together, and uphold our shared purpose. Ā mātou uara | our values are an important part of this, our Toi Ohomai values are: Toitūtanga – Courageous and humble in our pursuit of excellence Manaakitanga – Strengthening the mana of others and our communities Kotahitanga – United in our shared purpose All applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Toi Ohomai is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and will undertake relevant vetting and pre-employment checks. We review applications as they arrive and may contact shortlisted candidates before the closing date. For a copy of the Job Description visit pd_procurement-specialist-draft_jul-26.docx #J-18808-Ljbffr