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- Tasks: Support procurement activities and strengthen supplier relationships for Lothian Pension Fund.
- Company: Join a vibrant team at Lothian Pension Fund, managing £10.3 billion in assets.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in public sector procurement while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Knowledge of procurement processes and experience in supplier relationship management required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
At Lothian Pension Fund (LPF), we administer the local government pension scheme (LGPS) in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We are an asset-backed and multi-employer scheme with around £10.3 billion of assets and we were 157% funded at our last valuation in 2023. We serve over 95,400 members and 58 contributing employers. LPF is a growing, vibrant, and exciting place to work, offering flexible working and a blended work model, both from home and our spacious city centre office.
The continued professional development of our colleagues is important to us, so we provide access to a wide range of resources to build their expertise, skills, and confidence.
The Role
To provide expert internal support and guidance on procurement activities for Lothian Pension Fund and its wholly owned subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations, internal policies, and best practice. The role will drive timely and efficient procurement processes, support Supplier Relationship Owners (SROs), and strengthen supplier relationship management and contract management.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide expert guidance on non-regulated procurement activities and actively contribute to regulated procurement exercises working with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) Procurement, focusing on reducing completion times.
- Provide hands-on support to Supplier Relationship Owners (SROs) throughout procurement exercises, ensuring compliance with regulations, internal policies, and best practice.
- Support SROs in fostering and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers to encourage collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in service delivery.
- Monitor and champion contract lifecycle activities including performance reviews, compliance checks, and timely renewals.
- Collaborate with CEC Procurement and internal teams to strengthen procurement and supplier governance practices.
- Develop and maintain procurement guides, templates, and tools to promote consistent and compliant practices across LPF.
- Maintain accurate supplier records in line with regulatory and operational requirements and support the analysis and reporting of management information.
- Design, develop, and deliver procurement training and awareness-raising to build internal capability and awareness of best practice.
- Undertake any other such duties within the scope of the role as reasonably required.
Experience Required:
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of procurement processes and public sector procurement regulations.
- Experience of using public procurement tools including Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and frameworks such as G-Cloud.
- Experience in contract and supplier relationship management.
- Ability to research and benchmark procurement approaches used by other public sector organisations.
- Ability to build strong working relationships across all functions.
- Clean basic vetting checks.
How to Apply:
Please upload your CV and a covering letter, which includes a supporting statement explaining why you would be a great fit for the role. CVs on their own won’t be accepted as an application for the role.
Our Core and Flexible Benefits:
- A highly competitive salary and a discretionary variable pay award.
- A generous defined benefit pension scheme.
- A hybrid model of working, both from home and in our new office in the centre of Edinburgh.
- Flexible working to support both your needs and those of our organisation.
- An all-inclusive gender-neutral parent policy covering maternity, paternity, surrogacy, and adoption.
- A free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
- A cash bonus recruitment referral programme.
- Access to the Salary Extras portal offering discounts and services.
Lothian Pension Fund is committed to promoting a diverse, equal, and inclusive culture and welcomes applications from people of all sectors of the community. We encourage people from under-represented communities to apply, including those with disabilities, from minority ethnic groups, who are part of the LGBT+ community, and all those who feel their voices are not commonly represented.
If you need any adjustments to support your application, please contact us and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Procurement & Supplier Relationship Specialist employer: Lothian Pension Fund
Contact Detail:
Lothian Pension Fund Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement & Supplier Relationship Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Lothian Pension Fund's values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to procurement and supplier management. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your relevant experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest in the role can leave a lasting impression and keep you top of mind for the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement & Supplier Relationship Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make sure to highlight why you're the perfect fit for the Procurement & Supplier Relationship Specialist role. Use specific examples from your experience that align with the job description to show us what you can bring to the table.
Tailor Your CV: Don't just send out the same CV for every application. Tailor it to match the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your background fits with our needs, so make it easy for us to see the connection!
Showcase Your Procurement Knowledge: Since this role requires a solid understanding of procurement processes and regulations, be sure to include relevant experiences and tools you've used. Mention any public procurement tools like Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) that you've worked with to demonstrate your expertise.
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 without any hiccups. Plus, it shows us that you're keen on joining our team at Lothian Pension Fund!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lothian Pension Fund
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on public sector procurement regulations and processes. Familiarise yourself with tools like Public Contracts Scotland and frameworks such as G-Cloud. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're the right fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Since this role involves managing supplier relationships, think of examples where you've successfully built and maintained strong partnerships. Be ready to discuss how you foster collaboration and innovation with suppliers, as this is key to the job.
✨Prepare Your Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, procurement challenges they face, or how they measure success in supplier relationships. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
✨Tailor Your Application
When writing your covering letter, make sure to highlight your relevant experience and why you’re passionate about working with Lothian Pension Fund. Use specific examples from your past roles that align with their key responsibilities to make your application stand out.
