Senior Officer Procurement (FCS108)

Arts Council England; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A cultural sector funding agency in Manchester is seeking a Senior Officer for Procurement. This role involves delivering value for money through effective procurement practices. Candidates should have experience in public procurement and strong analytical skills. The position offers a fixed-term contract with flexible/hybrid working arrangements and competitive salary plus benefits.

Benefits

Final salary pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience with public procurement and a thorough understanding of procurement regulations.
• Attention to detail and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with limited direction.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing procurement processes from needs assessment to contract close.
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.

Skills

Public procurement experience

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Knowledge of equality and diversity legislation

Tools

MS Office

Procurement software

Job description

Senior Officer Procurement (FCS108)

Contract: Fixed term until 17 July 2026, working 35 hours per week; flexible working encouraged.

Salary: £38,404 per annum, plus benefits including final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible/hybrid working.

Location: Manchester – hybrid basis, 1–2 days on site per week.

Introduction: Arts Council is an arms‑length body of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport that distributes lottery funding across the cultural sector.

Procurement Team: The team sits within Finance, working to deliver high‑quality, value‑for‑money services whilst aligning with corporate objectives such as Net Zero and equality, diversity and inclusion. We recently received an award for embedding accessibility into a tender project.

Role Details

Support the Procurement Manager to deliver value for money through effective procurement of goods and services, ensuring compliance with public procurement regulations.

• Prepare tender documents and support the evaluation and contract award process.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to departments across the organisation.
• Maintain knowledge of public procurement regulations, the Public Contracts Regulations and the Procurement Act, and e‑procurement systems.
• Contribute to the alignment of procurement activities with corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the management of procurement processes from needs assessment to contract close.
• Ensure policies and procedures are followed and that procurement decisions support value for money and statutory compliance.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Analyse procurement data to support decision‑making and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience with public procurement and a thorough understanding of the Public Contracts Regulations, Procurement Act, and e‑procurement systems.
• Attention to detail, strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work with limited direction.
• Awareness of Arts Council duties under current equality and diversity legislation.
• Proficiency in MS Office; experience with procurement software preferred.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Arts Council is committed to an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and provide support for disabled and neurodivergent candidates. We participate in the Offer an Interview scheme for disabled candidates.

Job Ref: FCS108

Closing Date: 22 September 2025, 09:00am