Senior Procurement Advisor in Southend-on-Sea

Location: South-end-on-sea (Hybrid)

Salary: £60,094 - £67,402 (depending on experience)

Contract: Permanent

Main purpose of the job

Under the direction of the Group Manager of Procurement, the purpose of the role is to manage each procurement team and provide procurement support to each Council department so they can effectively purchase contracts for services, suppliers and works in accordance with UK Public Contract Regulations and Council policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise, organise, line manage and coach a team of procurement advisors.
• Collaborate with Corporate Directors and Heads of Service to deliver procurement and contract management requirements.
• Provide professional and proactive expert procurement advice, together with excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Deliver planned and unplanned procurements in accordance with the councils contract procedure rules, procurement strategy, procurement toolkit, UK Public Contract Regulations and any other Council policies.
• Deliver the annual procurement plan (agreed by cabinet) and organise contract management responsibilities.
• Implement robust commercial and contractual terms in the best interests of the council.
• Deliver agreed savings targets.
• Work in partnership with contract managers to performance manage contracts over a certain threshold.
• Manage requisition approval in Agresso for spends.
• Contribute to the provision of internal and external training to develop capacity within the Council and supply chain, including SMEs and the voluntary and community sector.
• Deputise for the Group Manager for Procurement in their absence.

Regularly audit, monitor and measure the team’s performance to ensure compliance with the councils contract procedure rules, procurement toolkit, UK Public Procurement Regulations and any wider council policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or working towards or appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.
• Project and Programme Management (Prince 2 methodology desirable).
• Continuous professional development (CPD) - evidence of Category Management, Contract management, Purchasing Procedures workshops, Financial management skills, Risk assessment/analysis.

Knowledge

• Significant Procurement knowledge comprising advanced negotiation skills, knowledge of Strategic sourcing methodologies, supply chain theory, contract law and dispute resolution, statistical and data analysis skills.
• Knowledge of market areas related to specific work categories, finance and leasing knowledge, business accounting, UK Public Contract Regulations, EC Procurement Directives.

Purchasing Knowledge & Experience

• Contract Regulations, Financial Rules, EU procurement directives and UK legislation.
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Code of Ethics.
• Understanding and developing sustainable development strategies in partnership with the wider community.
• Broad understanding of various commodity areas such as Construction, Highways, Buildings, Facilities Management, Social Care, ICT and Health.
• Project Management - the ability to manage large complex capital and revenue projects.
• Advanced IT skills including knowledge of specialist software for contract management, electronic catalogue and e-procurement systems.

Experience

• Understanding of public sector and local government procurement.
• Senior specialist commercial/industry experience in purchasing and supply in a senior management role.
• Significant senior purchasing experience and understanding of Strategic Sourcing methodologies.
• Experience of contract management, resolving disputes, influencing people, team working, project managing complex procurement activities, supplier relationship management.
• Track record of customer relationship management and building collaborative partnerships.
• Management of resources and financial risk and commercial acumen.

Additional Information

The role will require occasional travel to other locations as required.

Please contact Mathure for further information.