Procurement Governance, Policy and Support Manager

If you want to lead the governance that makes public procurement lawful, transparent and trusted, this role offers the opportunity to shape how LBBD assures, improves and explains its commercial decisions. As Procurement Governance, Policy and Support Manager, you will provide strategic leadership for the Council's procurement governance, policy, assurance, transparency, compliance, systems and social value functions. You will act as the Council's lead officer for procurement governance and compliance, ensuring procurement activity is undertaken in line with the Procurement Act 2023, Contract Rules, Financial Regulations, corporate governance requirements and wider legislative obligations.

You will lead the development of policies, templates, playbooks, standard operating procedures, assurance frameworks, dashboards and training that help officers buy well and make defensible decisions. You will oversee statutory transparency obligations, procurement notices, Central Digital Platform publication, audit activity, supplier due diligence, exclusions, conflicts of interest, contract modifications, KPI reporting and contract management governance. This is a senior role with organisation-wide influence: you will provide assurance to governance boards, senior leaders, audit colleagues and elected members that procurement activity is robust, transparent, value for money and focused on social value and public benefit.

By leading a professional governance and support team, you will help LBBD strengthen public accountability, reduce risk, improve commercial capability and secure maximum public benefit from procurement and contract management activity.

You should be educated to degree level, or be able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience, in procurement, commercial management, governance, law, finance, audit or a related discipline. A relevant professional qualification, such as MCIPS, commercial governance, project management, audit, legal or public sector procurement training, or evidence of substantial continuing professional development, would be welcomed. You will need detailed knowledge of public procurement legislation and governance, including the Procurement Act 2023, statutory transparency obligations, notices, Central Digital Platform publication, exclusions, conflicts of interest, contract modifications, audit trails and assurance controls.

Experience of developing and maintaining policies, procedures, templates, management information, dashboards, social value frameworks, compliance monitoring and assurance arrangements is important. You should be confident managing risk, reporting to senior boards, supporting audit activity, handling sensitive procurement information and leading staff within a governance, procurement or commercial support function. In return, you will join a purposeful service where strong governance, clear policy, effective assurance and practical support help LBBD buy well, act transparently and secure maximum public benefit for residents and communities.

You will be a senior governance, procurement or commercial professional who is motivated by helping public services make decisions that are lawful, transparent, proportionate and in the best interests of residents. You will bring strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023, transparency obligations, statutory notices, the Central Digital Platform, exclusions, conflicts of interest, contract modifications and governance controls.

You will have experience of leading governance, policy, compliance, assurance or audit arrangements in a complex public sector or regulated environment, and be able to turn legislation, risk information, audit findings and procurement data into clear advice, practical controls and better ways of working. You will communicate confidently with senior officers, elected members, Legal, Finance, Internal Audit, services and suppliers, and you will be able to influence through clarity, evidence and sound judgement.

Just as importantly, you will be an inclusive leader who can manage, motivate and develop a governance and support team, build capability across the organisation and create a culture of continuous improvement. Above all, you will be a trusted adviser and steward of public value, focused on strengthening assurance, transparency, social value and public confidence in how LBBD buys and manages…