Commercial Policy & Governance Officer

Are you interested in how large organisations make decisions, manage risk and spend public money responsibly? Do you enjoy improving processes, influencing others and helping turn policy into practical action?

KCC's Commercial and Procurement Division is looking to recruit one Commercial Policy & Governance Officers to join our Commercial Standards Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and embed the policies, governance arrangements and assurance mechanisms that underpin procurement and contract management activity across one of the largest local authorities in the country.

Working across a diverse range of services, you'll help ensure that procurement activity is compliant, well-governed and delivers value for money for Kent's residents. The role will also support the Council's responsible procurement agenda, including support for SMEs and VCSEs and the management of key supply chain risks.

As a Commercial Policy & Governance Officer, you'll support the development and implementation of KCC's commercial policies, procedures, governance and assurance arrangements. You'll work across Directorates and corporate functions, helping colleagues understand and apply procurement policy and governance requirements in a practical and proportionate way.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Support the development and implementation of procurement policies and procedures, including the Council's spending rules.
• Monitor, evaluate and improve how policies are implemented across KCC.
• Carry out research and horizon scanning to ensure KCC remains aligned with legislative and policy developments and improves its procurement practice.
• Help shape and maintain best practice guidance and support cross-Council compliance with public procurement regulations.
• Support governance and assurance processes, including senior level procurement boards and Member review panels.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues across KCC and external partners to support effective governance and continuous improvement.

This is a varied role combining policy development and implementation, governance and assurance, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery.

We're looking for people who are curious, organised, politically aware and passionate about good governance, public value and continuous improvement. You'll be comfortable building relationships across organisational boundaries, challenging constructively when required, and supporting others to navigate complex requirements in a practical and proportionate way.

You’ll bring a strong people-focused mindset, excellent attention to detail, and a genuine interest in how procurement, contract management and commercial governance can be used to improve outcomes for residents and communities.

Whilst this is not a procurement practitioner role, the successful candidate will need sufficient commercial awareness to engage credibly with procurement professionals, commissioners and contract managers and help effectively translate policy and governance requirements into day-to-day practice.

You will have:

• Experience developing or supporting the implementation of policies, procedures, governance arrangements or assurance mechanisms.
• Experience supporting projects, programmes or improvement initiatives.
• Good organisational and project coordination abilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to analyse information, solve problems and communicate complex information clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience working in, or closely alongside, procurement, commissioning, contract management, governance, assurance or…