Contract & Commercial Specialist in Reigate

Role Purpose

To lead or support delivery of a defined range of specialist contract and supply management projects at Service/Department level in line with the agreed contract management improvement plan. This will include influencing Heads of Service and other senior managers to gain support and leadership sponsorship. For more complex projects, this will involve working as part of a broader team; for others, this role will take the lead.

To provide robust challenge to all aspects of council contract management to deliver agreed outcomes, improved value for money and social value, and to optimise relationships with suppliers and markets. To establish the performance level, delivery and adherence to contracts, taking appropriate action in response to any contractual underperformance. To deliver relevant training and other support to ensure proper compliance with IACCM standards and other policy or regulation, and to encourage a best practice approach to contract management in accordance with the professional framework that is in place.

To deliver, or contribute to, the development of effective supply chain management activities within a given Service area, and to the development of local supply markets. To network across the local area and the wider Orbis geography, to share knowledge and gain supply market insight. To collaborate in matrix teams with colleagues across Procurement to deliver an end-to-end Procurement service for project stakeholders. To collaborate with the Procurement Programme Management Office to ensure project and benefits delivery are properly monitored and managed.

Work Context

This role works in the Procurement Service within Orbis, whose partner councils spend a total of £1.3bn a year on goods, works and services. The department provides high quality professional procurement, commercial, contracting and purchasing services to colleagues and customers both within, and beyond, the partner authorities. The contract and supply team ensures that all contracts are segmented according to their level of risk, value and complexity. This role supports improvement activities on the Level 1 and 2 contracts, which are worth a total of £325m or around 25% of the total annual contractual commitment of the partner councils. Post holders will mostly work on local projects, but there will be some work as part of cross-functional teams across Orbis and other partners.

Representative Accountabilities

• Analysis, Reporting & Documentation: Assess or conduct analysis, presenting results and putting forward recommendations on managing more complex situations to support decision making. Analyse and make recommendations for improvement or development of existing systems, processes or policy.
• Customer Service & Support: Maintain, develop and review systems, processes, procedures and working methods to maximise service delivery, quality, efficiency and compliance. Provide specialist/professional advice and recommendations within defined policy/strategy and procedures to support informed decision making.
• Planning & Organising: Plan workloads and secure resources to enable the team/s to achieve a quality service. Lead projects and reviews within a defined area of work as directed by manager to support and enhance service delivery.
• Finance/Resource Management: May assist with budget/resource/funding management in accordance with the council policies and procedures. May have delegated responsibility for a budget(s).
• Work with others: Liaise, communicate and build relationships with other internal departments, customers, partner organisations, agencies and/or contractors to support and represent the team/service.
• People Management: May manage a team operating in a well-defined specialist area or oversee the delivery of a range of support services to a service or function. Monitor and support the performance management and development of team members to ensure that individual contributions are maximised. And/Or operate as an individual responsible for the delivery of a high level and complex service.

Duties for all

• Values: To uphold the values and behaviours of the organisation.
• Equality & Diversity: To work inclusively, with a diverse range of stakeholders and promote equality of opportunity.
• Health, Safety & Welfare: To maintain high standards of Health, Safety and Welfare at work and take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others.

Connect2Surrey is a trading style of Surrey & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Surrey County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Surrey is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.