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Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Edinburgh, is currently looking to recruit a Procurement & Contract Management Officer for an initial 12 month contract on a rate of £250-£275/day (Inside IR35). This role will be hybrid working with the expectation to attend the office two or three days a week.

Responsibilities:

- Provide support and advice on a range of procurement matters and assess corporate, business and operational requirements to ensure procurement issues are identified at the earliest opportunity, focusing on managing risk, ensuring full compliance with legislation and achieving efficiencies and best value.

- Manage and influence annual estimated procurement spend of c. £2m by developing, publishing and implementing Corporate Procurement Strategy, Annual Report, Policies and Procedures, ensuring compliance with all relevant Legislation.

- Lead on implementing the organisation’s Sustainable Procurement Action Plan and report progress to the Scottish Government and prepare the organisation for the Procurement & Commercial Improvement Programme (PCIP) capability assessment.

- Chair and lead meetings with Managers to ensure that all contractual arrangements are in place, including major capital contracts and plan resources for future procurement competitions, ensuring Procurement Programme and Contracts Register are maintained and regularly reviewed and updated and ensuring the organisation receives best value for money in terms of cost, quality and sustainability.

- Deliver savings and benefits and meet annual savings target through improved procurement and working closely with customers to improve commercial management of contracts and suppliers.

- Report to SLT, Board and Scottish Government on savings achieved, produce regular spend reports and statutory Annual Procurement Report, monitor spend vs budget and highlight and action areas of improvement, with emphasis on increasing the organisation’s contracted spend. Complete Procurement section of statutory Climate Change Report.

- Provide procurement and contractual advice to all Management, Budget Holders, Project Managers, external partners and suppliers, by building and maintaining good working relationships, contributing to User Intelligence Groups, promoting and developing procurement expertise across the organisation in line with best practice and maintaining awareness of developments in legislation.

- Lead on significant procurement projects, including regulated procurements, carry out benchmarking and market research, support the development of complex specifications, carry out and support tender evaluations and manage debriefing of suppliers, ensuring effective competition and contractual terms & conditions are agreed before awarding contracts or recommending acceptance to National Convener/Chief Executive and/or SLT where contract value require additional approval in line with delegated financial authorities.

- Ensure inclusion of relevant and proportionate exclusion, selection and award criteria in procurement exercises, including Fair Work First, environmental, consideration of Community Benefits, and where relevant complete a Sustainability Test, EHRIA’s and Cyber Security assessments, taking account of Data Protection requirements.

- Liaise with Public sector partners including the Scottish Government and where appropriate, represent the organisation at relevant Public Sector procurement forums, including Cluster Group meetings, to ensure best possible outcomes.

- Establish, maintain and monitor a register of all contracts with a view, but not limited to contract value, contract length and relevant KPIs. Act as a ‘gatekeeper’ for all contract related queries for contractors as well as national team staff.

Essential Skills:

- Qualification in relevant discipline or equivalent experience

- Monitor, register and manage all commercial arrangements throughout the organisation including keeping a register of all contractual engagement across the organisation.

- Knowledge of the application of Public Sector and National Legislation and experience of conducting complex procurement exercises

- Significant experience of purchasing and procurement in the public sector

If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.