Procurement Manager - Forth Valley College

The Procurement Manager (Advanced) reports to the Senior Procurement Manager for College Services Central and South at APUC, and has line management responsibility for two members of staff. The post-holder will play a key role in delivering strategic and operational procurement support across the College. Forth Valley College is a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation, offering an exciting and varied procurement environment. The procurement portfolio covers a broad range of categories, including Estates, Facilities Management, ICT and Professional Services, providing excellent opportunities to work across diverse projects and stakeholders.

Procurement is a well-established and highly regarded function within the College, with APUC providing a shared procurement service since 2011. The successful candidate will join a collaborative environment where procurement plays a key role in supporting the College's strategic objectives and delivering value across the organisation. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that has a significant impact on learners, communities and economic development across the region.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the Procurement Strategy for the institution and deliver the category strategies, jointly with institutional stakeholders;
• Manage senior and operational stakeholder and key supplier relationships;
• Manage routine higher value tendering and implementation of collaborative agreements in the institution;
• Manage the procurement of institution wide specific goods/services/works requirements;
• Develop and facilitate the procurement processes based on the “Procurement Journey” and provide operational guidance for / to those involved in lower value procurement below formal tender levels;
• Increase the Procurement Capability of the Institution;
• Assist in implementing the Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan and move the institution to raising its attainment level versus the Flexible Framework;
• Assist in the delivery of institutional focussed procurement awareness training;
• Mentor / support / manage less senior procurement staff;
• Provide the key link from the institution to the APUC collaborative procurement team;
• Represent the institution on the various forums and contribute to sector wide joint initiatives in relation to procurement;
• Assist in undertaking statutory UK procurement reporting for the institution and routine procurement reporting from data for the relevant academic year;
• Implement the requirements of Procurement Legislation.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Be of high intellectual calibre, with the highest ethical standards;
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply or working towards this (preferred);
• Be a professional, credible manager with excellent general management skills and have the essential competencies of clarity of purpose, self-confidence, integrity with strong influencing ability;
• Have expert knowledge of EU & Equality purchasing legislation as it relates to the HE/FE sector;
• Demonstrate sound commercial acumen;
• Skilled in contract drafting and negotiation.

Experience

• Have proven project management skills and of meeting demanding targets and deadlines on a day-to-day basis;
• Have extensive procurement experience including the management of end-to-end tender processes, contract negotiation and contract management;
• Experience in production and manipulation of procurement related data and production of management reports;
• Experience of reporting / analytical reporting;
• Advanced spreadsheet skills and the ability to use financial models to present efficiency performance.

Contracts and Relationships

The post holder must build strong working relationships with all stakeholders and develop the reputation of APUC as a source of expert guidance and support both to institutional customers and suppliers; and must be able to influence, negotiate and achieve consensus with clients, colleagues and contractors. They must maintain a positive, supportive, can-do attitude at all times and be a role model for less senior staff.

All of our roles offer:

• Generous annual leave entitlement (equivalent of 40 x 7 hour days)
• 9‑day fortnight or a 4.5‑day week (full time)
• Closed for the festive period (between Christmas and New Year) and Good Friday and Easter Monday every year
• Hybrid working
• Flexible working patterns
• Pension scheme with employer contributions & Group Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) & Mental health and wellbeing support
• Family‑friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave)
• Comprehensive induction programme
• Access to professional development, training and support for qualifications
• Leadership and management development programmes
• Regular performance and development reviews
• All staff team building and development days
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Smart Tech Scheme
• Staff discount schemes (e.g., retail, gym, lifestyle)
• Monthly allowance for BYOD
• Long service awards (10, 15 and 20 years)

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter, noting your current salary level and notice period.

About APUC

Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) is the Centre of Procurement Expertise for, and owned jointly by, all of Scotland's Universities and Colleges. With collaboration, responsibility, and integrity at the heart of what we do, we're all about helping our member institutions achieve their objectives, whether you are putting together Framework Agreements, reducing the sector’s carbon emissions or working directly in one of our client institutions. Joining APUC means joining a community of peers, and getting the chance to get together often and having network opportunities throughout the year. Peer support and collaboration is integral to who we are at APUC. We currently employ around 90 people, most of whom are based within Colleges and Universities but with some based in our regional offices in Stirling (HQ), Glasgow and Edinburgh.