Procurement Assistant Manager – Children & Families

Essex County Counci; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Procurement Assistant Manager to join their dynamic team. This role offers the chance to lead sourcing processes and manage strategic contracts within a vibrant public service environment. You'll be instrumental in developing category strategies and collaborating with stakeholders to drive improvements and efficiencies. With a commitment to professional development and a supportive culture, this position provides an excellent opportunity to make a real difference in the community while enjoying flexible working arrangements. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence in procurement.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Local Government Pension

27 Days Annual Leave

Professional Development Support

Inclusive Culture

Team Morale and Support

Work-Life Balance

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement with a focus on category and contract management.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement law and contract legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of category strategies.
• Manage suppliers to ensure performance standards are met.
• Support stakeholders on procurement matters and best practices.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation Skills

Category Management

Contract Management

Continuous Improvement

Education

A Level

MCIPS or equivalent

Tools

Procurement Software

Job description

Procurement Assistant Manager - Children & Families

Fixed Term, 12 months

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£34,266 to £40,313 per annum plus Flexible Working & Local Gov Pension

Location: Chelmsford / Hybrid

Working Style: Anywhere worker - expectation to attend the office (County Hall, Chelmsford) is typically once to twice based on business needs

Closing date: 5th January 2025

Please note that this is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.

The Opportunity

The role of Procurement is to work with stakeholders across ECC to understand requirements for goods and services, make an assessment of the market, and determine the appropriate strategy for each spend area. The team also actively manage strategic suppliers and their contracts.

The Procurement Assistant Manager will manage the delivery of sourcing processes in a compliant and timely manner. Directly accountable for assigned contracts and assisting in the strategic management of smaller contracts, ensuring that service level agreements and key performance indicators are monitored, and any improvements are executed. The role will negotiate commercial or contractual terms for contracts worth below £25 million to achieve positive outcomes and ensure contracts keep pace with ECC’s changing requirements.

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional to fulfil this truly wide-ranging role spanning both category and contract work. You will deal with the full procurement lifecycle, touching all elements of the process from cradle to grave.

You will gain extensive knowledge and have the opportunity to progress your career using best practice methodology. Great stakeholder skills are key as well as a 'can do' attitude, and this is an opportunity to be part of a professional team.

This is a great role in a vibrant and growing team. You'll find an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

What’s in it for you?

• Make a difference to the local community, be that infrastructure, climate change, or adult social care and help us transform Essex to a circular economy as we redefine growth and focus on positive society-wide benefits.
• We are a very large procurement team with circa 120 staff and have seen the department grow by 25% over the last 18 months. Annual Spend of £1.2 billion.
• We are one of the few CIPS accredited County Councils in the UK.
• We are the largest Local Authority Procurement Team in the UK and have a national reputation for excellence.
• Work for a high performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.
• Great training pathways. Encouragement to all staff for their continual professional development with full support and guidance towards CIPS / MCIPS.
• Flexible working - with no official start or finish time you can make your work arrangement work around the other elements of your life offering a fantastic work / life balance.
• Local Authority Pension Scheme. For more details please visit: https://www.essexpensionfund.co.uk/
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holiday.
• 37 hour working week.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the development, maintenance, and implementation of category strategies, ensuring alignment to commissioning objectives.
• Develop and implement innovative approaches and solutions in the delivery of complex projects to enhance levels of service and minimise costs.
• Collaborate with Senior Managers and Members regarding the commercial and financial viability of differing commercial options for specific projects.
• Manage suppliers to ensure they consistently achieve the performance standards set out in contracts.
• Operate a continuous improvement approach to identify and deliver ongoing changes while leading the negotiation of commercial and contractual changes.
• Lead projects and tenders, ensuring all sourcing activity complies with appropriate legislation and ECC policies.
• Work collaboratively with incumbent suppliers and potential new entrants to identify gaps in market provision.
• Provide support and advice to stakeholders regarding any contractual or procurement matters.
• Support the adoption of best practice approaches to ensure that the Procurement function is seen as 'best in class'.

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential:

• Educated to A level with a relevant professional qualification such as MCIPS or equivalent demonstrable work experience.
• Knowledge of category management and experience using this methodology in complex commercial environments.
• A demonstrable track record of managing strategic contracts in business-critical environments.
• Evidence of delivering continuous improvements in strategic arrangements.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of contract law and legislation relevant to specific categories.
• Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law.
• Comprehensive negotiating skills for multi-million pound contracts.
• An awareness of working in a political environment.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]