Procurement Specialist for ICT and Corporate 7 Forces in Wymondham

Location: Dependent on applicant’s location, they can be based anywhere across the 7 Forces. The 7 Force Procurement Team is a shared service supporting the seven police forces across the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk). This collaboration is responsible for third party spend of approximately £230m per annum, making the 7 Force Collaboration the second largest police procurement collective after the Metropolitan Police.

The 7 Force Commercial Services Function are looking for a Procurement Specialist to lead and deliver on ‘Tactical Acquisition’ & ‘Tactical Profit’ procurements within the ICT and Corporate Services Category team across the 7 Police Forces, and all strategic Contract Management & Supplier Relationship activity, within the allocated category, with a view to securing better value for money from contractual arrangements and ensuring the contracted benefits are delivered.

The post holder must have the ability to interact with all senior level management and represent the 7 Forces as a collective or individually, where necessary. They must have the gravitas to influence external bodies such as the Home Office, Crown Commercial Services, Police Digital Service and BlueLight Commercial and participate, as appropriate, on nationally led initiatives, providing opinion, guidance and shaping future offerings. The post holder must also be able to interact with budget holders and operational contract owners in the 7 Forces, ensuring the procurement pipeline accurately reflects business need priorities.

The post holder will be ideally educated to CIPS Level 5 in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a Procurement professional for a complex, public-sector organisation.

• The post holder will hold CIPS Level 5 in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a Procurement professional for a complex, public sector organisation.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a Commercial role e.g. Category management, Procurement, Purchasing.
• The post holder will be able to demonstrate good level of procurement experience within a complex, public-sector organisation.
• Good knowledge and understanding of contract law and the application of EU Public Procurement Regulations and legislation. This is to include developing specifications, preparing and evaluating tenders, including those operating under framework arrangements and EU directives.
• The post holder will have good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Provide innovative thinking and impetus to help drive through change and develop and enhance an integrated function across the seven forces.
• Good experience of translating business needs into commercial procurement strategies that drive enhanced business outcomes for the organisations as a whole.

• Procurement experience with a blue light organisation.
• The post holder will have procurement experience working in an ICT or Corporate background.

For an informal initial discussion about the role please contact farzad.zeb@beds.police.uk in the first instance. The postholder for this role will be employed by 7 Forces Commercial Services, but the base location of the postholder could be within any of the seven police forces listed above (i.e. local to you) and is therefore open to candidates across all regions. Applications from internal ‘at risk’ staff will be prioritised and receive preference in any selection processes. The Vetting level required for this post is Management MV and Security Clearance. Candidates will be required to undertake the appropriate level security vetting checks, which will include the requirement to have lived in the UK for the past five years from the date of your application.