Job title: Procurement and Contracts Officer
Contract: Permanent
As a Procurement and Contracts Officer, you’ll thrive on building relationships with stakeholders to deliver real change and value for money through procurement and contract management activities.
It’s not just about processes, regulation, and cost-cutting. It’s about analysing and understanding the council’s needs, building trusted relationships with colleagues and with our external contractors to ensure the effective delivery of high-quality goods, works and services for our customers.
You’ll work within the Procurement and Commercial Services team, providing procurement and contract management advice, solutions and support to services and projects within the council and the wider city region. Your role will support important initiatives that make a genuine difference to the lives of our residents.
With the implementation of the new Procurement Act, now is a great time to join the team to help the council deliver its strategic priorities with a real focus on improving contract management activities.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Procurement and Contracts Officer, you will bring to the role:
* CIPS Level 4 Qualifications (and/or other Procurement and Contract Management equivalent) or equivalent procurement experience
* Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, and related legislation and regulations
* Drive, energy, resilience, and initiative
* Good communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and form positive relationships
* Knowledge and experience of implementing a procurement and project management methodology to drive service improvement
About the role
As a Procurement and Contracts Officer, you’ll be integral to our Procurement and Commercial Services team which offers you a varied role in a vibrant and forward-thinking environment. You will have a key role, developing and driving procurement strategies, evaluating potential suppliers and negotiating contracts to ensure that value for money is delivered throughout the commercial lifecycle.
You will manage a team who provide advice and handle complex procurement activity. You’ll advise service leads, ensure compliance with procedures, procurement legislation and contracts, and provide guidance on commercial activities. You will also support a category management approach and provide advice to members and directorates.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirement
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form, ensuring you demonstrate suitability against the essential criteria outlined within the essential requirements below.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact, Lewis Sinkala – Head of Procurement at lewis.sinkala@leeds.gov.uk.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
Provide and lead professional advisory and management functions in respect of procurements and contract management activities which are of moderate complexity, risk and value, ensuring the council is more enterprising and efficient and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of procurements and supporting complex procurements and contract management activities.
Responsibilities
* Manage procurements of moderate complexity, risk and value, and where appropriate support procurements which are more complex and/or of higher risk and higher value, contributing to the delivery of the council’s procurement category management function and commercial approach as a whole.
* Contribute to the identifying and resolving of risks and issues in specific procurements.
* Assist the Procurement Category Manager in providing advice to service departments prior to the commencement of the procurement, including procurement options appraisal, procurement plan, specification, pricing models, innovative partnership arrangements.
* Coordinate and manage the tender process to Invitation to Tender stage including contributing to the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, publishing of relevant documentation and coordinating input from legal, technical and financial specialisms.
* Contribute to, and where appropriate manage, the procurement process to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation.
* Provide post-procurement advice and management, including the Contract Management Plan, completion of balance scorecards/other performance monitoring, regular contract reviews, supplier engagement, and other ad hoc advice and management as may be required in relation to contracts from time to time (and escalating issues if appropriate).
* Provide advice regarding contract extensions, variations (including change control best practice) and termination of contracts.
* At all stages of the procurement process respond to and communicate with bidders on behalf of the council.
* Assist with the development, management and monitoring of the implementation of category management and category plans across identified categories of spend.
* Report on spend and proactively advise departments regarding off-contract, non-contract and quasi-contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.
* Assist in reducing procurement costs and improving efficiency by identifying areas suitable for corporate contracts and e-procurement, and developing other appropriate contractual arrangements.
* Maintain a record of the savings achieved through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement and contract arrangements.
* Contribute to and guide the preparation and authorisation of contract document to ensure that properly drafted contracts are entered into; implement standardised documentation across procurements and categories.
* Develop and monitor procurements undertaken on a regional and inter-council basis.
* Help develop the skills and abilities of service-area based staff to enable them to undertake procurement projects of varying size and complexity.
* Provide advice and guidance on the implementation of, and ensure compliance with, the council’s Contract Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, and statutory undertakings.
* The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
CIPS Level 4 Qualifications (and/or other Procurement and Contract Management equivalent) or relevant experience delivering procurement projects is essential.
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
* Able to present information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats.
* Able to employ a range of management styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for staff and customers.
* Demonstrate self-management skills as well as resilience, integrity, and openness.
* Relevant demonstrable skills or experience at a level equivalent to the required competency levels for procurement and contract management.
* Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, with an understanding of the procurement issues facing the public sector.
* Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets.
* Knowledge, understanding and experience of implementing a procurement and project management methodology to drive service improvement.
* Understanding and practical experience of procurement and commercial approach through all stages of the procurement life cycle.
* Experience of effectively managing procurement contracts and supporting complex procurements to achieve objectives.
* Experience of applying different strategies for solving procurement and contract issues.
* Experience of reviewing systems and procedures to improve service delivery.
* Experience of working in a multi-discipline environment and supporting a hybrid team.
* Experience of contributing to the successful management of change programmes which reflect service needs, provide value for money, and maintain quality.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate to form positive relationships.
* Experience of delivering a high level of customer satisfaction with the quality of service.
Essential behavioural and other characteristics
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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