Procurement Manager

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Luton are excited to recruit a Procurement Manager on behalf of Luton Borough Council.

Main purpose of position:

The role will involve managing end-to-end procurement projects and implementing strategies to reduce cost whilst delivering quality services. The Procurement Manager will provide best practice procurement advice and challenge within each project assigned, driving incremental value from effective intervention and application of appropriate procurement and evaluation strategies. The post holder will be expected to advise on projects across all categories of expenditure, general fund, capital and HRA funded schemes;

including complex, high risk projects. The post-holder will have day to day shared supervision of a two procurement officers and three procurement assistants with management of one specific individual.

You will be responsible to:

1.Provide leadership on specific high value and complex strategic procurement projects, managing the supply market, supplier research and tendering activity to support all service areas within the authority.

Use professional knowledge and experience to advise senior managers on the procurement options and risks/issues.

Apply procurement best practise and knowledge of the Public Contract Regulations and contract standing orders of the Council to ensure compliance.

2.Manage all procurement projects through to completion to deliver the following outcomes:

· Compliance with overarching council objectives and standing orders;

· Taking responsibility for the application of procurement regulations and best procurement practise and cabinet office policy;

· Have input into the direction of the work programme under supervision from the Business Partner and Service Manager;

· Understand key commercial drivers and commercial success criteria for procurement's undertaken within the authority and act as procurement challenge within the procurement governance process.

· Develop comprehensive plans in order to deliver service requirements within prescribed times as set out in regulations and best practise.

· Employ different financial modelling to understand total cost of ownership/whole life costing of contracts;

· To research, understand and deploy innovative approaches to procurement, within the limits of regulations.

3.Supervise day to day activity of the Procurement Officers (2) and Procurement Assistants (3) in conjunction with the other Procurement Managers.

· Allocate procurement projects and ancillary activity based on risk, complexity and capability;

· Provide professional support and advice to enable direct reports to meet service and organisational objectives.

· Provide training, development and mentoring to further improve skills.

4.Work in partnership with and deputise for, the Business Partner in:

· Managing resources in order to maintain service delivery, making appropriate decisions in order for projects to progress;

· Development of strategies for the delivery of efficient and effective procurement processes;

· Development and implementation of a Buy Local policy to maximise opportunities for local suppliers;

· Establishment of a robust data based approach to identification of opportunities for savings and service improvement.

5.Responsible for developing productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver business outcomes on time and to requirement.

6.Responsible for engaging with suppliers, current and potential, in order to ensure they fully understand the Council's requirements and procurement process.

Skills and Experience:

Previous experience in leading compliant procurement projects for public and/or private sector organisations
Excellent communication (both verbal and written), negotiation and influencing skills in a commercial environment and within a wide range of people and organisations
Experience in Neighbourhood services' procurement (Waste, Regulations & Licencing, Private Sector Housing, Commercial Services)
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, being able to manage multiple work streams, at different stages of development simultaneously
Able to apply problem solving analytic skills to prepare…