You will be responsible for all aspects of our procurement process, including the formation and approval of procurement strategy, preparing the council for regulatory changes, and production of procurement reporting including contracts register. The role supports, coaches, educates, and challenges the procurement team and the wider councils.
The role is responsible for transforming how we procure in all areas, ensuring the efficient and effective provision of works, services, and goods for the Councils, delivering value for money and offering advice on all areas of the Councils’ purchasing and contract activity.
Key Responsibilities
* Deliver a strategic sourcing programme for defined category areas, devising appropriate procurement strategies while understanding spend profiles and the delivery of projects within time constraints and defined budgets.
* Provide comprehensive, relevant, and high-value insight into all procurement and commercial aspects of specific categories, understanding the supply chain, the commercial environment, and cultural and political influences.
* Work proactively with colleagues to develop the potential for a stronger local supplier market, ensuring that more spend, where appropriate, is directly leveraged into the local economy.
* Meet customer requirements by delivering value for money, identifying cost savings, and other efficiencies, including innovative solutions.
* Ensure that internal clients adhere to the Local Authority Contract Standing Orders and procurement directives.
* Be competent in the use of all technology relevant to the post and undertake system duties commensurate with the grade.
* Ensure adherence to procurement governance, including robust data analysis, opportunity assessment, strategy development, and creation of appropriate evaluation criteria, all in accordance with EU procurement directives, UK legislation, and Local Authority Contract Standing Orders.
* Develop a contract management process, lead on the support and training with services, and ensure it supports our strategic objectives.
Adding Value
* Participate in regular training and CPD to continue to develop skills and increase personal capabilities.
Behaviours
* Demonstrate a willingness to actively support and encourage the development of all staff as appropriate.
* A team player at all levels.
* A proactive and successful relationship builder across the team, wider organisation, and its partners.
* Demonstrate a consistency of approach, recognising the impact of personal style in the team and act with integrity.
* Ability to think both operationally and strategically as the situation demands.
Management of Teams
* Manage behaviours and performance effectively.
* Ensure quality leadership including 121’s, team meetings, appraisals, and workforce planning.
Budget Responsibilities
* Monitor financial performance and deliver within budget, seeking opportunities for financial savings, income generation, and best value.
* Be fully accountable for managing the council’s resources well and complying with statutory requirements, including managing time, avoiding unnecessary waste, and reusing and recycling resources to reduce personal impact.
Social Value Responsibility
* Drive for social value through all activities, ensuring wider social, economic, and environmental benefits for the council, residents, and communities.
Corporate Responsibility
* Contribute to the delivery of the Council Plan.
* Deliver and promote excellent customer service, externally and internally.
* Commit to customer excellence.
* Make the council a great place to work, living the council’s values, actively engaging in regular communications including team meetings, undertaking training as required, and being responsible for managing own performance.
* Develop the Council’s commitment to equal opportunities and promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
For more information on this role, please contact Jo Knight, Assistant Finance Director, at Jo.Knight@guildford.gov.uk.
About Guildford
Guildford is a regional centre for leisure, business, education, shopping, and culture set in beautiful countryside that includes the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Guildford is a thriving market town and a principal shopping destination with a vibrant night-time economy. The town’s geographical location provides excellent transport links in all directions, with London just 30 minutes away on the train and the town well-served by frequent bus routes and subsidised Park and Ride facilities. All of this contributes to a quality of life that attracts many people to live, work in, and visit Guildford.
We are an equal opportunity and Disability Confident employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and post-holders to share this commitment. To fulfil this commitment, we have robust systems in place for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers.
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