Purpose of the Role:
To work within a Transformation Unit supporting a specific area of the business, delivering high quality and cost-effective procurement and contract management support, in order to maximise on-going efficiencies and savings through robust practices that comply with internal Contract Procedure Rules, Financial Regulations, the Procurement Strategy and other appropriate policies.
To assist the Strategic Procurement and Contract Management Lead with the creation, development, maintenance and monitoring of the Procurement Pipeline, and the development of policy and strategy in relation to procurement and contract management.
Main Responsibilities
1. Provide expert procurement and contract management advice to a specific business area.
2. Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with the relevant business units and promote the principles of good procurement and contract management practice throughout the organisation and with partners to ensure that procurements are carried out in accordance with council policies and procedures, including Contract Procedure Rules, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety, Environmental Sustainability, Social Value and any other relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice including relevant legislation.
3. Work as part of a Transformation Unit throughout the life of a programme/project to understand the required outcomes and provide specialist advice in relation to the current market, provider engagement, and procurement options.
4. Support and lead high value, complex and/or transformational procurements in conjunction with the service area lead, Transformation Business Partner, and where required the Strategic Procurement and Contract Management Lead.
5. Provide advice and support to the service area in relation to the development of procurement specifications, and throughout the life of the procurement, for example, with supplier questions and evaluation of tenders.
6. Provide support and advice to Contract Managers to effectively manage contracts and provide assurance that contracts deliver the specified performance and outcomes within budget.
7. Ensure that outcomes are clearly defined, and appropriate performance measures and outcomes are put in place as part of the procurement and contract management process.
8. Assist the Strategic Procurement and Contract Management Lead to implement promote and embed internal and external policies and initiatives linked to procurement and contracting e.g., Social Value, carbon neutral, equalities.
9. Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected at this level.
Experience
• Working across diverse services within complex organisations including partnership working
• Experience of managing a tender process and/ or contract negotiation
• Contract management experience and monitoring of key performance indicators
• Experience of contract management and/ or supplier engagement
• Purchasing and supply chain experience
• Experience with procurement and contracts administration under EU funded contracts or agreements
Knowledge
• Market knowledge and awareness of intelligence tools and techniques (e.g., market/product segmentation, portfolio analysis, cost modelling etc
• Specialist knowledge and understanding of current best procurement practices and technology including competitive tendering, electronic reverse auctions
• Knowledge of electronic tendering systems
• Knowledge of the latest purchasing techniques and legislative requirements
• Good working knowledge of client contracts and associated contract mechanisms
• Knowledge/experience of managing a portfolio of strategic and large value contracts
• Local Authority financial and budgetary controls and procedures
• Local government and the political environment
• The role of the Health and Care Partnership and health environment
Skills and Abilities
• Develop and maintain trusting open and productive relationships with key stakeholders
• Break down and effectively communicate complex, systemic problems and ideas, translating them into tangible goals and activities
• See and understand the bigger picture and help others understand wider context and implications around procurement decisions
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others
• Comprehensive experience of project principles, techniques, and tools
• Able to initiate and drive change and improvement
Training and Qualifications
• Be educated to degree level, or equivalent, and/or hold a professional qualification – e.g., full membership by examination of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS), or similar
• Continuous professional development
• Contract Management accreditation (IACCM, Government Commercial Function etc)
Working Arrangements
• Flexible to meet the needs of the organisation