Procurement Lead

Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an adaptable Procurement Lead to join us on a two-year fixed term contract. This is a varied role which will see you lead on procurement activities across a range of categories, including PPE, Operational Services and Facilities Management. The successful candidate will bring broad experience across a number of categories with strong commercial awareness and ability to successfully manage a diverse portfolio of activity.

The ability to work independently is key.

As part of the Procurement team, the Procurement Lead will provide independent, proactive professional procurement and commercial support to internal clients across Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS), including budget managers and purchasing customers. The post holder will also work with external clients, suppliers and procuring organisations to support delivery of the KFRS procurement work plan.

The successful candidate will work with Category Managers in the development of Category and sub-Category strategies that ensure corporate objectives and the Service’s operational needs are met, linking into wider local and National collaboration wherever possible, achieving best value, compliance with legislation and adherence to Procurement Policy

• Extraction, monitor and manage financial data associated with procurement activity within the Service, in accordance with the Procurement Policy and Financial Management arrangements
• Analyse and manage spend to proactively identify and develop opportunities for savings, efficiencies and improved commercial outcomes, including through contract formation and effective contract management
• Manage supplier engagement in accordance with the Procurement Policy, to manage risk and ensure all suppliers of goods, works and services operate to specification under an agreed set of terms and conditions
• Hold broad functional responsibility for contract management for a range of contracts. This will include monitoring performance to agreed and defined standards
• Provide procurement awareness training to the Service as required on any new or existing procurement processes and category management approaches; to ensure there is clear understanding of the processes required
• Maintain the integrity of the data within the Contract Register and Procurement pipeline
• Provide management reports and detailed analysis as and when required, to support the provision of commercially centred management information

• CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply
• Demonstrable experience of working in a similar role with tangible cashable and efficiency outcomes while considering Whole Life costs
• Working knowledge and experience of Public Sector procurement processes and the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023
• Working knowledge and experience of applying contract and supplier management processes
• Working knowledge of Public Sector Frameworks
• Experience of public sector procurement
• Ability to develop a tender pack, to…