Procurement Category Manager: Science and Research

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in London is seeking a Procurement Specialist to assist in implementing the Procurement Transformation Strategy. You will develop effective purchasing procedures and support staff in research and laboratory procurement. The ideal candidate holds a CIPS qualification and has experience in managing contracts within the Science and Research category. This role includes an indefinite contract and a full-time position offering 35 hours per week.

Benefits

Diverse and inclusive work culture

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Be familiar with working within Purchasing Policy.
• Knowledge of responsible procurement practices.
• Experience of negotiating contract terms.

Responsibilities

• Assist in implementing the Procurement Transformation Strategy.
• Provide support to staff involved with purchasing.
• Promote effective tendering and negotiating procedures.

Skills

CIPS qualification (or working towards)

Knowledge and experience managing procurements

Experience dealing with external suppliers

Excellent Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Experience in Higher Education environment

Tools

Frameworks related to Science and Research

Job description

Overview

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About us: Procurement Strategy & Services is part of the Professional Services Directorate and was established to help the university deliver best value from its spending. The primary role of Procurement Strategy & Services is to work with Schools, Departments and external organizations to ensure the achievement of key goals: value for money from university and third party spend; delivery of projects and contracts to time, quality and cost; professional reference on best purchasing practice; reducing administrative costs; policy standards and guidance on best practice; promoting collaborative procurement across the HE sector; and developing the university\'s procurement capability.

Procurement Strategy & Services has overall responsibility for all matters related to the effective and efficient procurement of equipment, products and services within the university. They help ensure best value for money in the university\'s £200 million non-pay budget and observe and fulfill statutory obligations related to procurement. The department also evaluates and manages commercial risks and the supplier base.

Website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/professional-services/procurement

About the role

To assist the Director of Procurement and Associate Director of Procurement (Science and Research) in implementing the Procurement Transformation Strategy and monitoring its effectiveness. This will focus on the Science and Research category and involve working with clients in research and laboratory roles, pre and post award and grant teams to ensure compliant and effective purchasing and contract management.

The key strategic objectives of the post will be:

• to develop a progressive awareness of best procurement practice for the Science category
• to develop and promote improved procurement procedures to support the College\'s obligations under its funding conditions
• to provide appropriate support and guidance to staff involved with purchasing in this category
• to train and support the purchasing community in the university
• to keep abreast of developments in relevant markets and ensure supply chain resilience
• to identify and deliver savings (reportable)
• to support the Directors and other colleagues in Procurement Strategy and Services to meet the university\'s objectives including sustainability and promoting the university\'s Socially Responsible Procurement Policy

To support the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in ensuring that approved purchasing policies, practices and procedures are followed throughout all Schools and Departments within the University.

To assist in promoting effective tendering and negotiating procedures and in the evaluation and vetting of external suppliers.

To establish effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers for a diverse range of goods, services and works throughout all areas of the University.

To take a key role in monitoring the take-up on a University-wide basis of various key supplier contracts.

To help develop throughout the University an awareness of the potential and benefits of more effective purchasing.

To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations.

To provide relevant advice to purchasers throughout the University in respect of procurement legislation (where relevant to grant funded projects), University purchasing policies and procedures, Research Council procurement requirements and other relevant requirements in respect of the purchase of goods and services.

To establish effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers for a diverse range of goods, services and works throughout all areas of the University.

To take a key role in monitoring the take-up on a University-wide basis of various key supplier contracts.

To help develop throughout the University an awareness of the potential and benefits of more effective purchasing.

To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• To support colleagues in the Procurement Team, the CPO and staff across the University to provide a highly regarded and effective procurement service.
• To ensure that approved purchasing policies, practices and procedures are followed within the University, particularly for the Science/Research category.
• To assist in the promotion of effective tendering and negotiating procedures and in the evaluation and vetting suppliers.
• To establish and maintain effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers of science and research goods and services to the University.
• To promote the use of established frameworks and other contracts where appropriate.
• To ensure accessible tools and templates are created and maintained for customers.
• To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations.
• To provide relevant advice to purchasers throughout the University in respect of procurement legislation (where relevant to grant funded projects), University purchasing policies and procedures, Research Council procurement requirements and other relevant requirements in respect of the purchase of goods and services.
• To support the CPO in providing management information for Senior Officers and University Committees relating to the University purchasing function and best purchasing practices, including savings achieved.
• To promote the Socially Responsible Purchasing Policy. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/assets/policyzone/finance/socially-responsible-pro...
• To undertake any other duties consistent with the skill level and nature of the post as required by the Director of Science & Research Procurement, or CPO.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. CIPS qualification (or working towards)
2. Be familiar with working within the constraints of organizational Purchasing Policy, Directives and Procedures (including Public Contracts Regulations)
3. Knowledge and experience managing procurements and contracts within the Science and Research category, ideally in a Higher Education environment
4. Knowledge of responsible procurement practices and the skill to apply them
5. Knowledge and experience of working with Frameworks (ideally Science and Research related purchasing Frameworks)
6. Experience dealing with external suppliers and contract management covering a wide range of products and / or services within a science environment
7. Experience of liaising with customers from within a sophisticated buying environment where funding may be secured from more than one source for a single project and across a variety of disciplines.
8. Experience of reviewing and negotiating contract terms with legal support when necessary
9. Experience of working autonomously, prioritizing a workload with conflicting demands and of managing time effectively
10. Responsibility for a purchasing portfolio in an organization which buys a large array of products and services, including scientific equipment and maintenance agreements
11. Excellent Communication skills, both written and oral
12. Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
13. Interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, direction, and the ability to influence

Desirable criteria

1. Working knowledge of Higher Education Sector and current issues facing it

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click "Apply Now". This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King\'s.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our How we Recruit pages.