Procurement Category Manager

This is a Full Time Permanent Position. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Paul Robinson, Procurement Manager at paul.robinson2@hullcc.gov.uk. Due to continued expansion, the Council’s Corporate Procurement Team are seeking to recruit a Category Manager. The role of the Team is to develop and embed efficient and effective procurement processes throughout the Council that will drive value for money. These processes are compliant with the Council’s Procurement Strategy, Vision and Values, and relevant UK Procurement Legislation including the Procurement Act 2023.

In addition to supporting the Procurement Manager in the ongoing development of procurement processes, our social value strategy and the production of training information and materials; the Category Manager will be the procurement lead for a range of tenders including those related to the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP). The post holder will personally undertake and lead on all associated procurement exercises.

Why Join Us?

• Impact – you will be part of a dedicated team of procurement professionals working with colleagues across the Council ensuring their procurement needs are compliantly met and strategically delivered
• Collaboration – you will develop effective working relationships with a range of Council Teams ensuring their visions and values are met via effective procurement processes
• Innovation – you will champion innovative approaches to procurement including the marketing of major procurement exercises to ensure maximum supplier participation
• Leadership – you will be a visible leader, supporting and developing our existing team members and members of other Teams and will contribute to the development of processes that will support all areas of the Council to understand and comply with relevant legislation and rules.

The successful candidate will:

• Have significant professional procurement experience, ideally gained from working in a public sector environment. A sound working knowledge of BSIP would be an advantage
• Have an excellent understanding of the application of Social Value measures in public sector procurement
• Drive continuous improvement throughout all procurement related activities
• Be able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with key client service areas
• Support the production of high-quality service specifications that will maximise Best Value potential and ensure compliance with appropriate rules and legislation.

About You:

• Qualified to CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma in Procurement and Supply or a relevant alternative qualification or qualified via significant public sector procurement experience
• Substantial procurement management experience which demonstrates the ability to initiate, plan, monitor, develop and implement service provision
• Experience of successfully managing and leading a team of staff
• Comprehensive knowledge of procurement principles, concepts and techniques, including project relationship and contract management
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of public sector procurement regulations including the Procurement Act 2023, the Social Value Act and Best Value
• A proven ability to establish professional, effective working relationships with a range of partners and colleagues.

What We Offer:

• The chance to make a real impact in a supportive, forward-thinking local authority
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• A collaborative, values-driven culture where your expertise is valued
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To provide effective, professional leadership of a category of spend identified within the Council’s procurement strategy ensuring compliance with the Council’s vision, values, policies and priorities and UK and EU law. To develop the supply market in order to build capacity within the category of spend allocated to the position with a focus upon delivering social value and environmental benefit in line with the Council’s Procurement Strategy.

To assist the Assistant City Manager for Procurement and Adult Social Care Commissioning, and the Procurement Deputy Team Manager to develop and embed efficient and effective procurement processes and value for money in the category of spend allocated to the position.

To take a lead role in one of the following areas:

• The development of Social Value and engagement with the voluntary sector
• The use of complex procurement approaches including Competitive dialogue
• Development and publication of Procurement Guidance on the Council’s Intranet Site
• Training for officers upon procurement processes
• Contract monitoring and reporting

To champion e-procurement processes so as to remove paper based transactional arrangements. To champion consultation with potential provider organisations upon the approach to the procurement of such contracts to deliver optimal social, environmental and economic value. To champion pro-active work with suppliers (especially local) in order to build capacity and support local businesses in line with the Council’s strategic objectives.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Customer Focus – Delivers, monitors and reviews objectives for the Category of spend managed by the position. Acts as category manager for one of the following areas of local authority spend: Adults and Public Health, Children and Communities, Construction, Urban Design and Facilities Management, Highways, Transport and Street Scene, People and Business Services, Schools and Utilities, ICT, HCAL / Leisure services. In consultation with clients manages, maintains and publishes on the Council’s website the Category Forward Plan for the category/categories of spend.
• Develops the approach to marketing a procurement exercise and subsequently plans and leads market engagement events to support the delivery of the procurement activity within the Category Forward Plan. Leads the development and shaping of long term supplier relationships to deliver financial, environmental and social value to the Council through the review and evaluation of current contracts, supplier contract performance and financial status, including ongoing risk assessment of current and potential suppliers.
• Uses analysis and judgement in preparing and updating market reports within own category portfolio. Exercises judgement in the evaluation of suppliers and contract performance, in using PESTLE, SWOT, portfolio and risk analysis techniques. Manages the procurement process, bringing together stakeholders from relevant service areas to form the procurement team, develops the procurement plan and project manages the procurement process.
• In conjunction with the appointed Legal Officer and the Client, determines the most appropriate procurement route for each project and prepares reports to decision makers and decision records in compliance with the Council template. Ensures appropriate Social Value deliverables are built into all contracts in accordance with the Council’s Social Value Workbook and monitoring arrangements to monitor the delivery of Social Value are put in place following contract award in association with the Employee team.
• Supports the production of high quality specifications to maximize their Best Value potential and ensures compliance with Contract Procedure Rules (CPR’s) and EU legislation. Produces and determines contract specifications and conditions, invites, analyses and evaluates tender submissions, negotiating the award of contracts on the basis of best value.
• Undertakes personally or supports the Framework and Senior Category Officer or Category Support Officer in the preparation, invitation and analysis of contracts with an indeterminate value. Exercises judgement on the award of contracts up to an individual maximum as described, based on value, quality, sustainability, service and financial appraisal.
• Promotion of, and where required ensuring the use of corporate contracts and framework arrangements throughout the Authority, including schools. Ensures the provision of professional procurement advice, challenge and expertise to internal stakeholders, maintaining a standardised approach to the achievement of social value, the delivery of sustainable procurement, the provision of guidance to suppliers and contract management, having regard for the Authority’s priorities.
• Leads in organising and providing clear oral and written procurement advice and assistance to officers and members in relation to a category of spend, to ensure the Council achieves the objectives of the Council’s Procurement Strategy.

2. Performance Management

Assists the achievement of financial savings through procurement activities in line with required corporate targets. Actively monitors the procurement category and category performance through specific Key Performance Indicators appropriate to the procurement function. Actively contributes towards compilation, delivery and analysis of performance information across the service.

3. Statutory Obligations

Leads in ensuring that advice is in accordance with relevant legislation, complies with the Council’s Constitution or the governing bodies or other bodies constitution or articles of association.

4. Strategy

Contributes to the development of Procurement and Commissioning Strategies for the City and works with the relevant Assistant Director, Directors and Portfolio Holder in relation to whom the Category Manager acts as procurement lead together with the Assistant City Manager for Procurement and Adult Social Care Commissioning and the Procurement Deputy Team Manager to ensure implementation across the Council. Prepares and presents reports to the Executive and Scrutiny Committees upon proposed procurement initiatives within the category for which the postholder is responsible.

5. Staff Development

Provides guidance to the Framework and Senior Category Officers and Category Support Officers upon the structuring of analysis of spend, needs analysis and options appraisals for the cluster of categories of spend. Guides the development of staff within service areas for which the Category Manager acts as procurement lead to enable them to fulfil their roles (eg in relation to the application/management of Dynamic Purchasing Systems and Framework Contracts).

6. Budget

Does not directly personally manage a budget, however, is instrumental in delivering outcomes that enable the Assistant Directors with whom the postholder works to deliver services within their budget of circa £0.5 billion.

7. Mediation and Negotiation

Responds to dialogue with bidding organisations in relation to submitted bids, including applying and explaining the decision to exclude a bidding organisation from the process. Fulfils the role of moderator in the evaluation of accepted tenders, mediating the final tender scores to ensure that they are legally defensible, and subsequently presents the tender outcomes to bidding organisations together with the explanation of the contract evaluation (and, if necessary, any tribunal before which such evaluation is tested). Acts as a member of the negotiation team, alongside the legal lead officer, to negotiate final contract terms.

Compensation Grades: GRADES 9 TO 10

Pay Ranges: £39,862.00 - £48,226.00

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.