Strategic Lead - Social Value and Sustainable Procurement

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is looking for a Strategic Lead for Social Value and Sustainable Procurement to help ensure that every strategy, programme and investment we deliver creates meaningful benefits for our people, businesses and communities.

This is a crucial role sitting across both our Strategy Unit's social impact function and our Procurement team. You will shape and lead our approach to maximising social value, embedding sustainability, and strengthening corporate social responsibility and philanthropy across everything we do.

If you are motivated by inclusive growth, public value and making public spending work harder for communities, this is an opportunity to lead change at regional scale.

About the role

You will lead the development and implementation of WMCA's approach to social value and sustainable procurement, supporting delivery of the West Midlands Growth Plan and our Inclusive Growth Framework.

You will ensure that our One in a Million commitment, Good Work ambitions and wider community outcomes are embedded in procurement from the outset. Working across Procurement, Inclusive Growth, Inclusive Communities, the Single Assurance Framework and the newly establishing Programme Management Office (PMO), you will help ensure that social value and sustainability are embedded into programme design, governance and delivery from the outset.

You will act as WMCA's expert lead on social value and sustainable procurement, providing strategic oversight, practical advice and clear governance.

What you will be doing.

• Lead the development and delivery of a Social Value Strategy and Sustainable Procurement Policy.
• Establish and coordinate a robust, authority-wide approach to securing and monitoring employment and community benefits through procurement.
• Embed social value and carbon considerations into procurement processes, tender documentation and evaluation.
• Provide technical advice on social value articulation, measurement and valuation.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with local authorities, social value system providers and regional networks.
• Contribute to tender preparation and evaluation processes.
• Produce high-quality briefings and presentations for senior leaders, Executive Board members and the Mayor.
• Promote good practice through case studies and external forums.
• Line manage staff where appropriate and provide leadership across this agenda.

What's essential.

We are seeking someone who brings both strategic thinking and practical delivery experience.

You will have:

• Significant experience of leading social value at within a complex public sector or regulated environment.
• A strong understanding of procurement functions and statutory requirements.
• Experience of monitoring, evaluation and reporting on outcomes.
• Knowledge of the current social value landscape for public sector bodies.
• Experience of building and sustaining effective partnerships across organisations.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals.
• Experience of producing high-quality written briefings, policies and presentations.
• The ability to bring structure and clarity to complex issues.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, alongside ongoing professional development.

Location.

The location for this role is Summer Lane with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply.

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Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential…