Remote Strategic Procurement Lead - Children's Services

Shropshire Council; United States; Remote; USD 124,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Shropshire Council is looking for an experienced Procurement Category Specialist with Children’s Services expertise to support its procurement and commercial transformation programme. This remote consultancy assignment focuses on developing category plans, prioritising procurement pipelines and delivering value for money through robust sourcing strategies.

You will work with commissioners and senior stakeholders to drive complex, high-value procurements, ensuring compliance and positive outcomes

Qualifications

• Significant procurement and category management experience within Children's Services, ideally within local government.
• Strong understanding of Children's Services commissioning and procurement environments.
• Experience developing category strategies, sourcing plans and procurement pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Engage with Children's Services commissioners to understand service requirements, priorities and upcoming procurement needs.
• Develop and implement a strategic Children's Services category plan and prioritised procurement pipeline.
• Translate commissioning requirements into commercially robust procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Lead and support complex, high-value procurement exercises from initial market engagement through to contract award and mobilisation.
• Use market intelligence to assess provider capacity, identify commercial risks and recommend appropriate sourcing options.
• Provide constructive challenge and commercial advice to commissioners and senior stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement activity delivers value for money while balancing compliance, cost, quality and service outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement and contract management practices.
• Work collaboratively with procurement, commissioning, finance and operational teams.
• Recognise opportunities for joined-up procurement across Children's Services, Adults and Public Health.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Category management

Public sector procurement

Stakeholder management

Commercial advisory

Job description

Shropshire Council is looking for an experienced Procurement Category Specialist with Children’s Services expertise to support its procurement and commercial transformation programme. This remote consultancy assignment focuses on developing category plans, prioritising procurement pipelines and delivering value for money through robust sourcing strategies.

You will work with commissioners and senior stakeholders to drive complex, high-value procurements, ensuring compliance and positive outcomes