At a Glance
- Tasks: Support procurement processes and help connect people with essential care services.
- Company: Essex County Council, a dynamic public sector organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Join a forward-thinking team with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on your community while developing valuable skills.
- Qualifications: A-level education or relevant experience, strong communication, and IT skills.
The predicted salary is between 21500 - 24500 £ per year.
Fixed Term, Full Time £25,081 to £27,653 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 18th January 2026
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.
The Role
Do you want a role where your work helps people find the care services they need? Then look no further. Essex County Council Adult Social Care uses a tool called Essex Care Search and we need your expertise to keep it running smoothly.
About Essex Care Search
It is our online care platform that connects citizens, health partners, and council staff with residential care vacancies. It also supports the council to manage contracts held with providers, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
This is a varied role that includes:
- Working closely with care providers, and system users to ensure seamless service delivery
- Monitoring and updating of records
- Maintaining data accuracy and resolving support requests promptly
- Training users
Your work will contribute to helping connect people with the residential care they need. You will be part of a supportive public sector team committed to making a difference.
The Opportunity
The Procurement Support Officer will support the Procurement function in various aspects, including managing and fielding supplier queries, supporting market engagement events and providing contract administration. The Procurement Support Officer will also support the delivery of research and analysis which informs category plans and potential improvements to the management of suppliers and markets. The individual will seek opportunities to remove waste, implement technologies and automate processes within existing contractual restrictions. The role requires good analytical skills to explore alternative solutions which meet customer requirements.
Accountabilities
- Support the Procurement function in various aspects, including managing and fielding supplier queries, supporting market engagement events and providing contract administration.
- Lead on the delivery and development of contract and supplier amendment and update processes including, price uplifts and onboarding new suppliers to ECC, liaising with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.
- Deliver robust research and analysis to support the team to ensure category plans are up to date and the management of suppliers and markets meet client needs.
- Deal effectively with supplier correspondence, ensuring that messaging is conducted in a fair, transparent and auditable manner.
- Support the delivery of low risk sourcing processes, ensuring compliance with the Authority's Procurement Policy and Procedures.
- Support the development, planning and delivery of improvement projects, ensuring effective stakeholder management and compliance with existing contractual requirements.
- Adopt a continuous improvement approach to systems and processes to support the development of best practice for wider department benefit.
- Support on reporting requirements with particular focus on performance management, risk management and corporate measures.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Educated to 'A' Level standard and/or qualification by experience of working in a commercial environment.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel to enable analysis of datasets.
- Solid working knowledge of PowerPoint and MS Word.
- Strong communication; verbal, written and presentation skills.
- Strong customer focus with a drive to provide a valued service.
- A positive attitude: a 'can do' approach, good work ethic and willingness to learn.
- Appreciation of working in a political environment and an ability to understand and respond to different perspectives.
- Confident IT user.
- An understanding of information governance.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
Procurement Support Officer in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive public sector environment where your contributions directly impact the community by connecting individuals with essential care services. With flexible working arrangements, a commitment to employee growth, and a focus on innovation, Essex provides a fulfilling workplace that values integrity and ethical behaviour, making it an ideal choice for those seeking meaningful employment in Chelmsford.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Support Officer in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the procurement field, especially those connected to Essex County Council. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that job descriptions just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to procurement support. Think about how your skills can help improve processes and service delivery. We want to see your passion for making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data to solve problems or improve efficiency in past roles. This is key for the Procurement Support Officer position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Support Officer in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Procurement Support Officer. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of connecting people with care services!
Show Off Your Skills:Don’t forget to showcase your analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel. We’re looking for someone who can dive into data and help us improve our processes, so let that shine through in your application!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate a straightforward approach that gets your message across without unnecessary fluff. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Procurement Support Officer and how it fits into the bigger picture at Essex County Council. Familiarise yourself with Essex Care Search and its importance in connecting citizens with care services. This knowledge will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Show Off Your Skills
Highlight your analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel during the interview. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've used these skills in previous roles, especially in managing data or resolving queries. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and customer focus. Think about past experiences where you had to deal with supplier queries or manage stakeholder communications. Prepare concise stories that showcase your 'can do' attitude and how you’ve successfully navigated challenges.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or the future of Essex Care Search. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values. Plus, it’s a great way to leave a lasting impression!
