Strategic Procurement Manager in Norwich

The most Senior Procurement Professional in the Council, leading and managing the centralised procurement Team.

Delivering Value for Money across the Council, supporting Services in all procurement activity,

Job Description

To lead and manage the provision of high-quality, professional and customer focused corporate procurement service across all areas of the council. Providing both strategic and operational oversight.

To fully understand the business and its customers. Act as a key point of contact for stakeholders taking ownership for all corporate procurement matters to be able to provide appropriate support, insight and challenge, alongside a comprehensive professional procurement advisory service.

To Ensure That All Procurement Activities Are Carried Out Consistently Across The Council In Support Of Fulfilling The Legislative Duties And Contract Procedure Rules Requirements. Including Supporting The Delivery Of:

• Procurement Strategy
• Contract Management Framework
• Any other key corporate strategies and plans

Actively participate and lead on procurement matters in of both departmental management teams and project teams, ensuring that all procurement matters are addressed satisfactorily and actions agreed to address any issues. Managing the provision of high-quality, professional and customer focused procurement support to executive and senior leadership teams and service managers.

To manage the Senior Procurement Business Partners and Business Partners.

Responsibilities

Key service-related accountabilities

• To lead and manage the provision of high-quality, professional and customer focused corporate procurement service across all areas of the council.
• Providing both strategic and operational oversight to the council.
• Responsible for writing and providing overside of delivery of key corporate procurement documents
• Procurement Strategy,
• Contract Procedure Rules
• Contract Management Framework
• To provide support to major change initiatives within the Council, leading procurement workstreams or required elements of projects and programmes and taking an active role in the management of change within the organisation
• To maintain an effective working knowledge of the legal framework for procurement, liaising with peers and knowledge groups and representing the Council where required
• Responsible for dissemination of information to officers to ensure the councils compliance to relevant legislation such as procurement and transparency regulations
• Ensure that there is adequate training for contract managers and commissioners within services on procurement procedures and practices, including changes in the legal environment
• Lead on the planning of work within the team in consultation with the Procurement Business Partners, ensuring potential risks to delivery are escalated to the Director of Finance and / or Executive Director of Resources
• Line-manage assigned staff, providing regular supervision, appraisal, and personal development planning plus ensure Procurement Business Partners, are performing effectively and delivering an effective and lawful procurement service to the Council
• Ensure that there are clear, efficient and lawful procedures for procurement activity across the council
• Support a culture of continuous improvement within the procurement team, promoting the use of best practice in procurement to support delivery of the procurement and contract management strategy. Communicating this best practice across the authority.
• To manage the relationship with legal providers and monitor performance against service level agreements and targets, negotiating on improving performance where necessary
• To manage the council’s insurance arrangements
• Ensuring that adequate insurance is in place in respect of the Council’s risks, escalating to senior management terms which leave the council exposed
• Ensuring claims are being managed and settled and reporting trends and risk to senior management
• Liaise with managers and service users to identify new or amended requirements within the partnership and delegation agreements (or similar) and service level agreements
• To manage the legal, insurance and procurement budgets
• Measure and monitor satisfaction from the council with services provided by legal and insurance
• Liaise with other internal and external services or partner organisations (e.g. HR, finance, audit) as required, to build effective and trusted relationships.
• Work with other council managers to improve communication, business protocol and business efficiency throughout the organisation and to share specialist knowledge as appropriate.

Skills Required

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• A successful track record of working with contractors and/or partner organisations and ensuring continuous improvement in service delivery
• Experience of managing in a procurement or financial team
• A excellent working knowledge of managing business relationships, procurement and legal services
• Understanding of working in a political organisation and working with senior officers and elected members
• Wide ranging and in-depth knowledge of performance management and obtaining improvements
• A detailed understanding of business relationship management and how to build relationships that will deliver excellent service
• In depth knowledge of negotiation techniques
• A sound knowledge of project management
• Experience of developing and delivering strategic plans
• Knowledge of procurement legislation and practice
• Budgeting
• Experience in staff development and managing change
• Experience of supporting or managing change initatives and programmes
• Knowledge of processes for completion of legal agreements in accordance with proper procurement practices

Essential

Skills and abilities

• Excellent financial and performance management skills
• High levels of creativity in problem solving, idea generation and seeking out and disseminating successful practice, in order to effectively deal with diverse, complex and highly sensitive situations and resolve disputes and reach agreements.
• Clear and effective decision maker in a challenging and complex environment
• Logical and enquiring approach
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish positive relationships with staff, senior managers, elected members, staff from other organisations and external bodies that generate confidence, respect and trust
• Highly developed influencing, networking, advocacy, oral, written, negotiation and presentation skills
• Persuasive and assertive
• Ability to apply and adapt to different management techniques
• Ability to lead and manage members of staff and constructively contribute to team working at all levels. Demonstrate the ability to work with others to reach a common goal.
• Initiative and ability to plan and organise time and resources to ensure that deadlines and agreed targets are met with the minimum of supervision.
• Ability to provide professional leadership to colleagues.
• Ability to deliver impartial and independent professional advice.
• Ability to maintain high levels of performance under changing conditions, tasks, responsibilities or people

Educational Requirements

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience to that level.
• Procurement qualification to level CIPS 5 (or above), or equivalent experience.
• Commitment to continuous development.

Interviews are planned for Wednesday and Thursday the 21st and 22nd of October.

Why work for us

Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

To find out more about working and living in Norwich

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The council has a long and proud history of being a council that is keen to push the boundaries of what a district can achieve, to find out more about what it is like to work in local government visit

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We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

Equal Opportunities Policy

The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

Benefits

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

• All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
• In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
• Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support

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