Please note that whilst we capture CVs as part of the application process, the initial sifting of applications occurs 'blind' and is based purely on the responses to the admin questions and sift questions. So please include sufficient detail as we won't have visibility of your CV at this stage. Please also make sure that you answer each question independently of each other, as they will be reviewed randomly, and the hiring panel will not know who the responses are from and how they relate to other questions at the initial sifting stage.

Procurement Apprentice

Remote (UK-based) | Full-time | Flexible working | Competitive salary + excellent benefits

Do your best work, for the right reasons.

We’re looking for a Procurement Apprentice with a passion for and an interest in building a professional career in procurement to join our team which supports teachers and improves outcomes for pupils across the UK.

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit working in partnership with teachers to create the highest-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

💡 About the Role

You’ll join our Operations Team, which consists of colleagues providing expertise and support in procurement, finance, HR, IT & Data Security, legal compliance and wider operational support to this ambitious and mission-driven remote organisation

This is a hands-on role with plenty of scope for growth and development, alongside completing a formal apprenticeship in procurement which will give you a professional recognised qualification.

🔧 What You’ll Be Doing

• Support the drafting of procurement contracts using defined templates and processes, guiding Oak colleagues where needed in line with our Procurement Handbook, and ensuring documentation is clear, accurate and complete.

• Track and assist in maintaining the procurement pipeline, monitoring contract timelines and end dates across suppliers, contractors and freelancers, and prompting renewal or procurement activity as required.

• Provide basic advice and guidance to colleagues on procurement processes and policies to ensure compliance, including supporting due diligence checks for suppliers and contractors and assisting with compliance monitoring and the ‘close down’ of a contract. 

• Actively participate in the Procurement Level 4 Apprenticeship, including attending training sessions, completing assessments/exams, and applying/sharing learning in day-to-day responsibilities.

• Work in cross-functional and product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation, as required

• As a member of the Oak Team, you will contribute to the wider success and culture of the organisation and support and role model our five values: create the right environment, be a great colleague, own your role but work for the team, make things happen, and keep getting better.

• Responsible As a member of the Oak Team, you will contribute to the wider success and culture of the organisation and support and role model our five values: create the right environment, be a great colleague, own your role but work for the team, make things happen, and keep getting better.

• Work in cross-functional and product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation, as required.

🌱 What We’re Looking For

• Prior experience of at least two years in an administrative or office-based role, with confidence using digital tools and remote working platforms (e.g. Google Workspace, Slack).

• Twelve months of previous commercial/procurement experience, for example, supporting supply management, ordering, purchasing or contract management.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to listen actively and explain processes clearly to others.

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate records and data integrity.

• Familiarity with databases, document management systems, or other tools used to manage contracts or records — training will be provided on our internal systems (e.g. Juro/In-Tend).

• A demonstrable interest in procurement and a commitment to developing professional knowledge in this area.

💛 Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Termly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

🌈 Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.

We use the Applied recruitment platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process. 

📌 Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next steps

You’ll answer some questions related to your day-to-day job. After the advert closes, your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised, and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers (real humans).

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next stage, which will include a remote interview with some of the Oak team.

We love giving feedback, so at the end of the application process we'll share how well you performed.

We are aiming to start interviews in May 2025.

We are experiencing really good responses to our job adverts. This may lead us to close the role early, so if you are considering applying then please get your application in early to avoid missing out.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.