At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement activities and drive improvements across key categories for the Council.
- Company: Join Westmorland and Furness Council, a dynamic organisation focused on transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, professional development, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to engage with diverse stakeholders.
- Why this job: Be part of a critical team influencing outcomes and supporting frontline services.
- Qualifications: Degree or CIPS Level 4, with strong procurement knowledge and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
If you are an experienced procurement professional looking for a high-impact role where you can influence outcomes and drive improvement, we would love to hear from you.
Location: Barrow, Kendal or Penrith
Contract Type: Fixed term until 31/03/2028
About the Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Procurement Leads to join the Commissioning and Procurement Service within the Resources Directorate. Reporting to the Service Manager – Procurement, you will lead and coordinate procurement activity across the Council’s key categories of spend. These are high-profile roles where you will ensure procurement activity delivers value for money, meets statutory requirements, and supports the Council’s strategic priorities. These roles have been created to support the delivery of the Council’s Procurement Improvement Programme, helping to strengthen procurement governance, ensure compliance with legislation, and improve consistency and value across our services. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing function, supporting a wide range of procurements and contracts that directly impact frontline services across the Council.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead procurement activity for goods, works and services within your category area
- Provide expert advice and business partnering support to directorates on procurement and contract management
- Manage and support a team delivering procurement activity across the Council
- Develop and maintain a robust procurement pipeline to ensure effective forward planning
- Ensure compliance with public procurement legislation and Council procedures
- Drive value for money, service quality improvements and sustainable outcomes
- Embed social value and carbon reduction within procurement processes
- Act as escalation point for contract and supplier issues
Why This Role Matters
These roles play a critical part in supporting the Council’s financial and transformation objectives, to strengthen compliance with procurement legislation, reduce regulatory risk, deliver the Procurement Improvement Programme, improve service consistency, and maintain service continuity across a complex organisation.
About You
We are looking for innovative and creative individuals with skills, knowledge, and experience in procurement, who want to make a difference. To be successful in the role you must have:
- Degree or relevant professional qualification (CIPS Level 4 or above) or equivalent experience
- Strong knowledge of public procurement regulations
- Experience of stakeholder engagement and business partnering
- Proven ability to build effective partnerships and deliver outcomes across organisations
- Experience applying risk management principles
- Excellent communication and influencing skills
- Understanding of social value and carbon reduction in procurement
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- The desire and ability to work collaboratively to effect change
These are high-profile roles and will provide you with the opportunity to work alongside a range of people, both within the Council and from other agencies and key stakeholder groups.
What can we offer you!
For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site.
Would you like to find out more? For an informal discussion about this opportunity, then please contact Bev Kent, Service Manager Procurement, Beverley.Kent@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Procurement Lead in Kendal employer: Westmorland And Furness Council
Westmorland and Furness Council is an excellent employer that values innovation and collaboration, offering a dynamic work environment in Barrow, Kendal, or Penrith. Employees benefit from a strong focus on professional development, a commitment to social value and sustainability, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on local services through high-profile procurement roles. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to driving improvement and delivering value for money in public services.
Contact Details:
Westmorland And Furness Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Lead in Kendal
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Lead in Kendal
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Westmorland And Furness Council that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Westmorland And Furness Council can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Westmorland And Furness Council that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Westmorland And Furness Council know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Westmorland And Furness Council
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
