RC 165 - Procurement Lead

Location: Milton Keynes (minimum of two days a week in the office. You can do more than two days if preferable).

Reporting to: Contracts & Procurement Manager

Working hours: Full time (9-day Fortnight companywide)

Contract type/duration: Permanent

Band: 3.2

Salary: £57,995 to £63,000 (Dependent on office location and proven ability)

Closing date: 13th April 2025

Interviews will be held on the 25th April 2025.

The Role: The role is to provide vital support to our Procurement team by efficiently advising on the purchasing and delivery of goods required by our organisation. This involves ensuring cost-effectiveness, maintaining quality standards, and adhering to established policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide procurement and contractual support to CPC through the end-to-end management of the procurement process.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver procurement solutions that ensure on-time delivery whilst also meeting cost and quality requirements.
• Review procurement spend, identifying areas for cost savings, internal process improvements and improved supplier performance.
• Support implementation of spend analysis and supplier segmentation to enhance value for money of goods and services.
• Review and negotiate optimum commercial terms for the organisation.
• Be responsible for the supplier on-boarding process and due diligence checks.
• Work with the Procurement & Contracts Manager to implement a suitable Supplier Management process.
• Educate and train users on the procurement processes and systems (Microsoft Dynamics; Proactis).
• Ensure controls are in place that promote compliance with the organisation’s procurement policy.
• Support colleagues in contract management processes.
• Stay updated on changes in procurement law, trends, and best practices to ensure the organisation remains compliant and competitive.
• Provide procurement expertise and advice to internal teams and senior management, supporting the delivery of high-quality services.
• Monitor and report on procurement activity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to timelines and budgets.
• Identify improvements to procurement policy and process.
• Working with the Contracts and Procurement manager, review and develop CPC’s procurement approach to sustainability, EDI and social value.
• Support wider initiatives that will improve commercial capability, especially with regards to promoting innovation in public sector procurement.
• Assist the Contracts and Procurement Manager and Procurement Innovation Manager on various tasks as required.
• Ensure an ethos of equity, inclusivity and diversity underpin your work activity, contribute to inclusive innovation across all Catapult activities.
• You may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties to support the Catapult in achieving its strategic outcomes and ensure effective business operations.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in procurement and contract management, ideally within the public sector.
• Knowledge of UK public procurement regulations.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to manage supplier relationships effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex procurement data.
• A results-driven approach, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Strong IT skills, including experience using procurement software and Microsoft Office.
• Be able to work autonomously.
• Experience with an E-procurement system.
• Have high levels of accuracy and numeracy and be well organised.
• Experience reviewing contracts.

Required Competencies:

• Spark creative thinking across all tasks.
• Apply systems thinking to problem solving.
• Create effective networks.
• Use personal influence to progress beyond challenges and blockers.
• Use experience to provide the voice of the customer in all activities.
• Effectively manage communication across teams and stakeholders, lead meetings and contribute to publications and events.
• Co-ordinate plans across activities.
• Role model agility and adaptation.
• Champion and promote inclusion and sustainability.

Benefits:

• 9 day fortnight for everyone, we have a full company shutdown every other Friday.
• 23.5 holiday entitlement for everyone, with pro-rata calculations for part-time employees, along with a Christmas shutdown period for additional days off.
• Competitive pension, up to 10% company contribution to help you save for your future.
• Two paid days of volunteering leave per year (pro-rata for part-time employees) to support charitable activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential work/life support services to you and your immediate family members.
• Cycle to Work Scheme encouraging a healthy and sustainable commute.
• Cash Health Plan, offering reimbursement for a wide range of essential and everyday healthcare expenses, promoting your well-being.
• Payroll Giving scheme, allowing regular charitable contributions from pre-tax income, maximizing the impact of your donations.
• Discounts and offers from a wide variety of retailers, enhancing your purchasing power and providing savings opportunities.
• Mortgage Advice benefit, delivered in partnership with Charles Cameron & Associates – provides employees with free, expert mortgage advice and end-to-end mortgage support from the application process through to completion.

Employment here is based solely upon individual merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law. We also make all reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under laws protecting the rights of the disabled.