Interim Category Officer

Assistant Procurement Officer - Children's Services & Education

Grade: 11
Rateb> £27.96 UMB

Location:

County Hall, Oxford (Hybrid - 1 day per month on site, with the possibility of an additional day quarterly)

This role is ideal for someone operating at a Procurement Assistant level who is looking to develop their skills and progress into an Officer role
. Reporting to the Category Manager for Children's Services
, the postholder will support and deliver procurement and contract management activity across Children's Services and Education categories.

The role will involve supporting and managing end-to-end procurements with appropriate guidance, ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations and local authority governance.

• Respond promptly to procurement requests from internal stakeholders
• Manage a busy shared inbox and prioritise workload effectively
• Handle Requests for Quotations (RFQs) in line with procurement thresholds and procedures
• Support and confidently moderate procurement exercises through to contract award
• Undertake contract extensions and variations in accordance with Local Authority governance processes
• Support the opening rounds of frameworks, including moderation, issuing outcome letters, following up on due diligence, and ensuring contracts are signed
• Lead variations in collaboration with key internal stakeholders, with support where required
• Maintain accurate procurement and contract records using e-procurement systems

• Experience in Children's Services and Education categories is essential
• Public sector procurement knowledge and experience
• Ability to carry out end-to-end procurements with minimal supervision
• Understanding of procurement compliance and governance within a Local Authority setting
• Experience using Atamis and Pro Contracts
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders

Hybrid working with 1 day per month at County Hall, Oxford
, and the possibility of an additional day quarterly
Flexible working hours, with core hours expected to be covered between 8:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday