Procurement Assistant in Essex

Contract: Permanent

Working Hours: 37

Salary: £34,434 – £37,280

Location: Kelvedon Park

Closing Date: 26th August 2026

We are open to discuss working arrangements including flexibility over hours and location, however the expectation is that, as a hybrid role your work will be balanced between home and Services facilities, and you will be expected to attend the Service premises for at least 3 days of a 5-day working week.

The Role

Join Essex County Fire & Rescue Service and play a key role in supporting procurement that helps in making Essex safer together. This is an excellent opportunity to build a career in public sector procurement within a supportive and professional team. Our Procurement Team work in a category management structure and this role will provide vital support to the 3 Category Managers and Head of Procurement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to develop a long-term career in procurement, with support given for their procurement exams.

We are looking for someone who is organised, commercially aware and keen to develop a career in procurement. The candidate will have an appetite to learn, we will support your development through funded Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) training, structured learning in public sector procurement, and hands-on experience across a wide range of procurement activities.

What You Will Be Working On

• Lead low value procurements across a range of categories.
• Provide administrative support to the Category Managers and Head of Procurement.
• Support the delivery of procurement activity.
• Maintain and update procurement systems and databases.
• Act as the first point of contact for the procurement mailbox, triaging and responding to queries.
• Support compliance by publishing transparency notices under the Procurement Act 2023.

What Are We Looking For?

• A willingness to learn and develop within procurement, and undertake qualifications.
• Strong organisational, administration and planning skills with the ability to prioritise and work under pressure.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrates a proactive approach to work, using initiative to manage tasks, resolve routine issues, and identify opportunities for improvement, while recognising when to elevate.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Confident and strong written and verbal communication skills, in a professional manner.
• Natural curiosity; interested to understand how things happen and always look for ways to challenge whether there is a better way.
• Appetite to learn new systems and take on varied challenges.
• Willingness to study towards CIPS.

Assessment and selection

The assessment and selection approach will be:

• Stage 1 Application & initial virtual interview planned W/C 31st August ’26.
• Stage 2 Formal in‑person interview at Service Headquarters planned W/C 7th September ’26.

Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact Sarah Smith, Head of Procurement at sarah.smith@essex-fire.gov.uk.

Our Culture and Benefits

Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees. You can find out more about our benefits at https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/recruitment/benefits.

Important Information for Firefighter Pension Scheme Pensioners

If you are currently in receipt of a pension from the Firefighter Pension Scheme, please note that taking up this role may affect your pension. Under pension abatement rules, if your earnings in this role, when combined with your pension, exceed your pre‑retirement salary (adjusted for inflation), your pension may be reduced. For further guidance, please contact our Pensions team on 01376 576799 or email mailbox.pensions@essex-fire.gov.uk.

Safeguarding

Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service. You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults. The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying. This role will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Disability Confident

We are an equal opportunity, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We value diversity and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Applications are considered solely on merit. Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact Equality.Diversity@essex-fire.gov.uk. You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk.

You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies and application processes via www.essex-fire.gov.uk/join-essex-fire.