Procurement Category Manager

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values. Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there; we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

The Housing Management Service has recently been reviewed and as a forward-thinking organisation, we are eager to adapt to the changes in the way our residents want to access our housing services. Housing is a critical priority for us at Hackney. Ensuring the very highest standards of housing management across our 30,000 council homes is paramount. As a Council with a strong track record of improvement, the return of our ALMO some twenty months ago provided us with the opportunity to set a new vision, purpose and pace for Housing Management.

The Procurement Manager is a key role within the Property and Asset Management team responsible for leading multi-million pound procurement projects from inception to completion. While primarily specialising in xxxxx the post-holder must remain flexible to manage various other housing procurements as required. As the procurement lead, your primary duties involve overseeing a pipeline of procurement activities while maintaining strict adherence to internal governance and the Procurement Act 2023. You will ensure that all contracts are completed punctually and offer excellent value for money.

Ideal candidates will possess professional experience in the construction, housing, or property sectors, alongside a comprehensive grasp of the Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Regulations 2010. Furthermore, proficiency in contract forms, specifically NEC and JCT, is essential for this role. You will report to the Head of Procurement and be responsible for one staff member who will provide you with procurement support.

In collaboration with Delivery Leads in PAM, Building Maintenance, and Resident Safety, and working closely with Project Sponsors, Project Boards and project teams, the post holder will:

• Provide expert advice on the Council’s procurement processes, ensuring compliance and embedding best practice in the commercial aspects of procurement activity.
• Lead the project management of procurement workstreams for major projects.
• Manage the sourcing of external providers, including market engagement where required.
• Lead on drafting of tender and contract documentation, supporting the development of robust requirement specifications.
• Oversee and manage the contract award process, ensuring due diligence, transparency and value for money.
• Develop and maintain a forward-looking procurement pipeline aligned to the strategic and operational needs of the Property Services Division, supporting early planning, resource allocation, and market engagement.

Qualifications:

• Relevant professional qualification in procurement, such as CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) or equivalent; or significant demonstrable procurement experience at a similar level, particularly within complex, regulated environments such as local government, central government, or housing associations.
• A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field (e.g. Procurement, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Business, or Law); or equivalent work-based learning and experience within the built environment.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: We act with Purpose and Respect, We take Ownership of our shared actions, We lead with Unity and celebrate Diversity.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk