Senior Procurement Officer

Job title: Senior Procurement Officer x 2 – People and Places

Salary: PO4 £ 46,142- £49,282

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: City Centre based, hybrid working offered (mandatory, weekly one day in office)

Are you a procurement professional looking to join a dynamic and committed procurement and commercial service? As one of our next Senior Procurement Officers, you’ll be inquisitive and thrive on finding solutions in the context of public procurement.

It’s not just about processes and regulation, cost cutting or finding the cheapest options available. It is about analysing and understanding the organisation’s needs, evaluating potential suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality goods, works and services for our customers. Effective procurement involves understanding our Service needs, careful planning, market research and supplier relationship management. It focusses on identifying opportunities for innovation, promoting sustainability and ethical practices, and mitigating risks, by adopting a strategic approach, procurement can contribute to the overall success and competitiveness for Leeds City Council.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

• Strong relationship (and stakeholder) management and communication skills with the ability to shape and influence change
• Experience supporting a Category Management approach in the delivery of best practice procurement and achieving value for money
• Be forward thinking, inquisitive and curious to understand the market and the supply chain
• Experience applying project management and managing multiple projects
• Strong procurement and/or supply chain management experience (relevant Degree, CIPS qualification or relevant demonstrable skills or experience)
• Experienced in public sector procurement preferable, although those whose background is not in the public sector but who can demonstrate an understanding of the issues and processes around public sector procurement will also be considered.

• Provide a professional advisory and management function in respect of complex medium to high procurements across either the People or Places Category.
• Promote and support outcomes focused solutions that will add values and help achieve the Best City Ambition
• Promote partnership working in and out the Council to support priority outcomes
• Support to the category management approach and transformation to ensure efficiencies and best outcomes

• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

• Manage procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements, within a context of budget pressures and funding restrictions, ensuring the delivery and improvement of services which meet the needs of our communities and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the identifying and resolving of risks and issues in procurements.
• Coordinate and manage the tender process to Invitation to Tender stage including the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, publishing of relevant documentation.
• Contribute to, and where appropriate manage, the procurement process to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation.
  
  At all stages of the procurement process respond to and communicate with bidders on behalf of the council.
• Report on spend and challenge departments regarding off-contract, non-contract and quasi-contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.
• Contribute to and guide the preparation and authorisation of contract documents to ensure that properly drafted contracts are entered into; implement standardised documentation across procurements and categories.
• Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, with an understanding of the strategic procurement issues facing the public sector.
• Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets.
• Experience of effectively managing medium complexity procurement contracts to achieve objectives.
• Experience of applying different strategies for solving procurement issues.
• Experience of reviewing systems and procedures to improve service delivery.
• Demonstrate drive, energy, resilience and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others.
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats.
• Experience of working in a…