Purchasing Officer - Immediate in Hove

Do you have the leadership and commercial expertise to shape how public money is used to deliver value for money and better outcomes for residents? Are you motivated by leading change, influencing senior decision-making and building a high-performing procurement service in a complex and fast-moving environment? This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of Brighton & Hove City Council. As Head of Procurement, you will lead our sovereign procurement service at a critical point in its development - shaping strategy, strengthening governance and driving improvement across procurement, contract management and commercial assurance. You will work closely with Members, the Corporate Leadership Team and seniorofficers across the council to ensure procurement is forward-looking, compliant and delivers real value - supporting the Council Plan, the city's wider priorities and providing a unique opportunity to influence services and outcomes across the city. Contract type: About the role What you'll be doing You will lead the council's procurement, contract management and commercial assurance function, ensuring a consistent and effective corporate approach across all services. Your work will focus on strengthening governance, improving systems and processes, and leading strategic procurement activity that secures high-quality, cost-effective and socially valuable outcomes for the city. You will operate at senior level across the organisation, providing expert advice on complex, high-value and high-risk procurement decisions, while leading a service through change, stabilisation and development. With significant changes to the public procurement landscape, you will play a leading role in ensuring the council's approach remains compliant, innovative and commercially effective, helping to shape the future of procurement across the organisation. What we're looking for You will be an experienced and confident senior leader with a strong track record in procurement or commercial leadership within a large and complex organisation. Strong strategic leadership and experience of developing and delivering procurement or commercial strategies Deep knowledge of procurement legislation, governance and best practice A proven ability to influence senior leaders and stakeholders on complex and high-risk issues Experience of leading and developing high-performing, inclusive teams Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into delivery Effective communication skills, with the ability to engage Members, senior officers, partners and suppliers A commitment to equality, inclusion and delivering social value through procurement What we offer This is more than a procurement leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence how public money is used, support the services residents rely on and help shape the future of Brighton & Hove. The opportunity to shape how the council manages third-party spend and delivers value for money and social value at scale, playing a key role in delivering significant savings and improving outcomes A key leadership role influencing corporate strategy and decision-making The chance to lead a service through transformation, innovation and improvement A collaborative and supportive senior leadership environment A strong commitment to flexible working, wellbeing and continuous development Encouraging a diverse workforceOur city is known and loved for its diversity. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans. be innovative and creative be healthy and psychologically safeFor more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us which gives details of our wellbeing support, our benefits including leave and pensions as well as details of our training and development. To support you in this, we have guidance on using the STAR model which can help you ensure you are telling us your whole story. There is a risk that we will therefore not be able to shortlist you. Additional informationYour starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only. Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check. We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense. Recruitment scam alert Some third-party websites may be using details from our vacancies to advertise roles that are not authorised by us.