Procurement Specialist

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); England; Remote; GBP 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Commercial Services Procurement Specialist to manage procurements across seven police forces. The role involves leading initiatives to secure value for money and improving relationships with suppliers. Candidates must possess essential procurement experience and hold CIPS Level 5 or equivalent.

Qualifications

• CIPS Level 5 or equivalent experience required.
• At least 5 years in a commercial role (Category management, Procurement).
• Good knowledge of contract law and EU Public Procurement Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Tactical Acquisition and Tactical Profit procurements.
• Ensure procurement pipeline reflects business need priorities.
• Interact with senior management and external bodies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Commercial awareness

Organizational skills

Time management

Project management

Sourcing knowledge

Report writing

Education

CIPS Level 5

Project management skills

Intermediate Excel capability

Job description

Title: 7 Forces Commercial Services Procurement Specialist.

Location: Dependent on applicant’s location, can be based anywhere across the 7Forces.

Grade: Essex PO2, Kent F, Beds PO3, Cambs MB1, Herts A5, Norfolk/Suffolk G

Salary: £36,996 - £50,109- Depending on location across the 7 Forces and experience. -Market Rate Supplement will apply.

Reporting to: 7F Head of Category Management

The 7Force Procurement Team is a new shared service supporting the seven police forces across the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk and Suffolk). This collaboration is responsible for third party spend of approximately £230m per annum, making the 7Force Collaboration the second largest police procurement collective after the Metropolitan Police.

The 7 Force Commercial Services Function are looking for a Procurement Specialist to lead and deliver on Tactical Acquisition’ & ‘Tactical Profit’ procurements within the ICT & Corporate Category across the 7 Police Forces, and all strategic Contract Management & Supplier Relationship activity, within the allocated category, with a view to securing better value for money from contractual arrangements and ensuring the contracted benefits are delivered.

The post holder must have the ability to interact with all senior level management and represent the 7 Forces as a collective or individually, where necessary.

They must have the gravitas to influence external bodies such as the Home Office, Crown Commercial Services, Police Digital Service and BlueLight Commercial and participate, as appropriate, on nationally led initiatives, providing opinion, guidance and shaping future offerings.

The post holder must also be able to interact with budget holders and operational contract owners in the 7 Forces, ensuring the procurement pipeline accurately reflects business need priorities.

The post holder will be ideally educated to CIPS Level 5 in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a Procurement professional for a complex, public-sector organisation.

For an informal initial discussion about the role please contact [e-mail], in the first instance.

The postholder for this role will be employed by 7 Forces Commercial Services, but the base location of the postholder could be within any of the seven police forces listed above (i.e. local to you) and is therefore open to candidates across all regions.

Applications from internal ‘at risk’ staff will be prioritised and receive preference in any selection processes.

The Vetting level required for this post is Management MV and Security Clearance. Candidates will be required to undertake the appropriate level security vetting checks, which will include the requirement to have lived in the UK for the past three years (RV) or five years (MV) from the date of your application.

Necessary Experience

Skills and abilities:

• Good analytical skills to align procurement solutions with customer needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise successfully with staff/officers of all levels and external individuals, and to influence stakeholders within the 7 Forces and external organisations.
• Good commercial awareness and to be able to identify potential opportunities that will benefit the 7 Forces.
• Good organisational, time management and project management skills in order to prioritise and manage own workload to deliver to deadlines and knowing when to seek support when needing to balance both operationally urgent and important tasks.
• Ability to travel as required throughout the 7 Force region.
• Good understanding of sourcing and procurement methodologies, as well as relevant Public Sector processes, policy and governance.
• Good report writing skills.

Qualifications / Education / Training:

• The post holder will hold CIPS Level 5 in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a Procurement professional for a complex, public sector organisation. (essential) A basic knowledge of contract law A project management approach to delivery of workload. Good IT skills, in particular a minimum of intermediate Excel capability.

Work Experience and Knowledge:

• At least 5 years’ experience in a Commercial role e.g. Category management, Procurement, Purchasing (essential)
• The post holder will be able to demonstrate good level of procurement experience within a complex, public sector organisation. (essential)
• Good knowledge and understanding of contract law and the application of EU Public Procurement Regulations and legislation. This is to include developing specifications, preparing and evaluating tenders, including those operating under framework arrangements and EU directives. (essential)
• The post holder will have good interpersonal and communication skills. (essential) Provide innovative thinking and impetus to help drive through change and develop and enhance an integrated function across the seven forces. (essential)
• Good experience of translating business needs into commercial procurement strategies that drive enhanced business outcomes for the organisations as a whole. (essential)
• Procurement experience with a blue light organisation (desirable) The post holder will have procurement experience working in a ICT or Corporate background. (desired)

The residency requirement for this role is five years. Please read the Eligibility Criteria information detailed below

Eligibility Criteria
All Applicants must reside in the UK and have continuous residency for the past three years, rising to five years for certain roles. (The only exceptions are being stationed abroad through the Armed Forces or having taken extended holiday / travelled for a period of less than 12 months, where your UK residency has been maintained)Please refer to the job description for the residency requirements for this role.

This post is open to:

• British Citizens
• Members of a European Economic Area (EEA) state who hold settledstatus under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Commonwealth citizens or foreign nationals (who are not British citizens or European Economic Area (EEA) state members) who have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for an indefinite period that is free from restrictions.