Please Note - Expectation to attend the offices is typically once to twice per week based on business needs. Procurement Assistant Manager – Essex Procurement Partnership Working across District and Borough Councils but working as part of the Essex County Council team, you will lead a large number and variety of sourcing projects, working with stakeholders across these Councils and pushing forward collaborative procurement within the partner Authorities. Procurement Assistant Manager – Sustainable Growth, Social Value and Climate Actively engage with stakeholders across Sustainable Growth, this role will manage and execute tender processes from start to finish on exciting, impactful projects whilst providing support for strategic sourcing initiatives and activities across the team. Procurement Assistant Manager – Essex Housing and Construction Providing procurement services to Essex Housing LLP, focussing on category management and sourcing of professional services and housing construction projects. The role will also support the Council's construction projects, including national framework call offs. Key Responsibilities Lead the development, maintenance and implementation of category strategies, ensuring alignment to commissioning objectives. Develop and implement innovative approaches and solutions in the delivery of complex projects to enhance levels of service and minimise costs. This requires working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and externally, to ensure best practice can be achieved when implementing new ways of working. Collaborate with Senior Managers and Members as to the commercial and financial viability of differing commercial options for specific projects within complex and at times, contentious environments. Manage suppliers to ensure they consistently achieve the performance standards set out in contracts and that adequate controls are in place to protect the Authority’s interests. Take a proactive approach to identifying and investigating contractual, commercial and market risks to ensure continuity of supply and protect the Authority’s interests. Operate a continuous improvement approach to identify and deliver on-going changes whilst also leading the negotiation of commercial and contractual changes to ensure they consistently meet business requirements. Lead projects and tenders, ensuring all sourcing activity fully complies with appropriate legislation and regulation whilst also complying with each EPP member Authority’s policies. Work collaboratively with incumbent suppliers and potential new entrants to identify gaps in market provision and explore opportunities to close those gaps. Provide support and advice to stakeholders regarding any contractual or procurement matters. Support the adoption of best practice approaches with the aim of ensuring that the Procurement function is seen as ‘best in class’. Ensure policies, procedures, documents and workflows are kept up-to-date and remain best in class. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework. Qualifications and Experience Educated to A level with a relevant professional qualification such as MCIPS or working towards such a qualification or equivalent. Knowledge of category management and experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments to deliver significant cost or service improvements. Experience in leading and delivering multiple tenders under the public sector regulations