Procurement Assistant Manager - Flexible & Hybrid

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension

27 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking a Procurement Assistant Manager for a hybrid role in Chelmsford. The position is full time (37 hours/week), fixed-term up to 18 months, with a salary up to £42,976 per annum and a Local Government Pension. Closing date 2 November 2026.

The role involves negotiating with providers, analysing placement costs, and delivering savings while collaborating with operations and finance teams. Some home-working is allowed; attendance in the office ~2 days/week.

Qualifications

• Educated to A level with MCIPS or working towards such qualification or equivalent demonstrable work experience.
• Comprehensive negotiating skills appropriate to multi million pound contracts.
• Experience delivering continuous improvements in strategic arrangements with evidence of cost/service benefits.
• Awareness of working in a political environment.
• Knowledge of category management in complex public sector procurement.
• Track record managing strategic contracts with supplier performance measures.
• Knowledge of procurement law and legislation affecting category/contracts.
• Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law with ability to explain the law.

Responsibilities

• Understand and scrutinise placement costs and budgets for children-focused procurement.
• Lead negotiations with providers and deliver savings targets.
• Support operations, finance and external provider markets.
• Apply commercial analysis to improve outcomes and value for Essex residents.
• Navigate political environments and build durable supplier partnerships.
• Drive continuous improvements in strategic procurement arrangements.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract management

Cost reduction

Stakeholder management

Public sector procurement

Political awareness

Contract law knowledge

Category management

Education

MCIPS / working towards

A-level

Job description

Essex County Council is seeking a Procurement Assistant Manager for a hybrid role in Chelmsford. The position is full time (37 hours/week), fixed-term up to 18 months, with a salary up to £42,976 per annum and a Local Government Pension. Closing date 2 November 2026.

The role involves negotiating with providers, analysing placement costs, and delivering savings while collaborating with operations and finance teams. Some home-working is allowed; attendance in the office ~2 days/week.