At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement and contract projects in housing services while engaging with stakeholders.
- Company: Local authority offering impactful housing and estate services.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, hybrid working, and the chance to make a difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Join a vital role that shapes housing services and supports community well-being.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, contract management, and service charge knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 30 - 40 £ per hour.
- Start: As soon as possible
- Job Summary
This is a high-impact interim assignment offering hybrid working, a competitive hourly rate and the opportunity to contribute to important housing and estate services projects.
You will play a key role in procurement activity, contract oversight, service charge work and stakeholder engagement.
About the Role
We are recruiting for an experienced Interim Procurement & Contract Manager to support a busy local authority housing service with a range of key projects across Council Housing and Estate Services.
This role will suit a confident procurement and contract management professional with strong knowledge of service charges, supplier management and local authority governance.
- What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading procurement and contract‑related projects across Council Housing and Estate Services.
- Providing specialist advice on tenanted fixed service charges, including formerly sheltered housing schemes.
- Calculating, reviewing and forecasting future service charge expenditure.
- Estimating service charges for new housing schemes both within and outside of the Housing Revenue Account.
- Supporting procurement activity, including preparing reports for committee approval on contract awards.
- Managing supplier relationships and monitoring contract performance.
- Responding to Member enquiries and first‑stage complaints from residents in a professional and timely manner.
- Applying health and safety knowledge to contract management and supplier oversight.
- What We’re Looking For
- Strong experience with service charges, particularly fixed service charges for residential accommodation.
- Good understanding of local authority procurement processes and contract award governance.
- Proven experience managing contracts and working with suppliers.
- Ability to forecast expenditure and calculate service charges accurately.
- Experience estimating service charges for housing schemes or new developments.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage with residents, Members and internal teams.
- Good knowledge of health and safety requirements linked to contracts.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work at pace and maintain high levels of accuracy.
- It Would Be Great If You Also Have
- Knowledge of the NEC housing management system.
- Experience of using NEC and Housemark Photobook IT software systems.
- Experience of setting up and coaching an engaged resident group to oversee grounds maintenance contracts.
About You
You will be organised, analytical, and confident in communicating technical information clearly and accessibly.
You will be comfortable working independently, building strong working relationships and supporting the delivery of effective housing services in a local authority environment.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced Procurement & Contract Manager with strong housing service charge knowledge and are available for an interim assignment, apply now to be considered for this opportunity.
Diamond Blaque is acting as the employment business for this vacancy.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
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Interim Procurement & Contract Manager - Housing Services employer: Diamond Blaque HR Solutions
At Diamond Blaque HR Solutions, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values innovation and collaboration. Our work culture fosters professional growth, offering employees the chance to enhance their skills while contributing to meaningful projects within the public sector. Located in Greater London, we provide a competitive day rate and a supportive environment that encourages career advancement and impactful work.
Contact Details:
Diamond Blaque HR Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Procurement & Contract Manager - Housing Services
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Procurement & Contract Manager - Housing Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Diamond Blaque HR Solutions that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Diamond Blaque HR Solutions can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Diamond Blaque HR Solutions that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Diamond Blaque HR Solutions know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Diamond Blaque HR Solutions
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
