Senior Procurement Officer - Business Partner

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Dorset Council's forward‑looking Commercial and Procurement function as a Senior Procurement Officer (Business Partner). The role focuses on supporting works and capital programmes, and on leading and delivering large, complex open procurement exercises in line with the Procurement Act 2023. It offers flexibility, support for other directorates, and the possibility of future senior appointments.

You will be responsible for delivering the procurement strategy, overseeing a range of complex procurement activities from initiation through to contract management, and ensuring services delivered are cost‑effective, sustainable, and aligned with the Council's objectives.

You will act as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, providing commercial advice across the full procurement lifecycle and bringing a proactive, solutions‑focused approach.

• Develop and promote the business partnering approach, working alongside other Business Partners within the team and Council
• Support directorates in the delivery of their strategic aims
• Provide strategic support and guidance to directorate leads
• Lead high‑value and high‑risk procurements, managing tender processes for directorate‑specific requirements, ensuring best practice
• Deliver strategic sourcing and commercial advice
• Offer commercial advice and guidance to officers and suppliers
• Support the delivery of a more commercially minded approach within the Council
• Contribute to commercial and procurement transformation activity, improving procurement capability and outcomes across the Council

• Confident engaging with stakeholders, managing competing priorities, and delivering outcomes in a complex environment
• Effective communication skills with the ability to engage multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Experience working with suppliers, including supplier relationship and contract management
• A strong commercial background with knowledge of procurement practices
• Expertise in public sector procurement regulations and practices including the Procurement Act 2023
• Knowledge of how markets and supply chains operate, applying this to secure value for money and efficiencies
• Project management skills with the ability to lead projects effectively (competent use of ICT, ideally including the Pro contract e‑tender system, and strong Microsoft skills on Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel)

• Hybrid role with a balance of remote working and office working (Dorchester), minimum of two to four office days per month
• Opportunity to work on a range of public sector procurement projects across Dorset
• Potential for fixed‑term appointment and career progression within the Council

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, please let us know on your application.