Category Procurement Officer
| Posting date: | 14 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,745.00 to £44,428.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £35745.00 - £44428.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 June 2024 |
| Location: | Northallerton, DL7 8AE |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | F0025-24-0029 |
Summary
The Procurement and Contract Management Service (PCMS) are responsible for ensuring that all procurement and contract management activities (commercial arrangements) provide the very best value for money for the council. We provide professional advice, guidance and insight regarding markets, suppliers, and contractual options to help support service delivery and improvement. The council spends approximately £650m pa across a wide portfolio of services. The post will work as part of a professional team to support the delivery of value for money across the council; operating within the framework of the councils procurement strategy, ensuring compliance with procedures and processes. The role will spend significant time within the Health and Adult Services and Children and Young Peoples Directorates and will work closely with the commissioning officers in each of the service areas. The role will maximise use of commercial approaches, with a focus on achieving best value for the council. The role will spend significant time within the Environment, Community Development and Central Services Directorates and will work closely with the commissioning officers in each of the service areas. The role will maximise use of commercial approaches, with a focus on achieving best value for the council. The role will spend significant time within Central Services and will work closely with the commissioning officers in each of the service areas. The role will maximise use of commercial approaches, with a focus on achieving best value for the council. The postholder will be part of a centre of expertise for the procurement, ensuring at all times that there is proper compliance with the overall Category Sourcing Strategy, the Councils Procurement and Contract Management Strategy, Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules, Financial Regulations, and UK Legislation on public procurement and contract management. The postholder will have a key role in working with service areas and the market to deliver viable procurement routes. A key part of the role is the ability to analyse, interpret and report on performance information and be proactive in finding solutions / resolutions within the context of procurement legislation and the councils governance framework. Job Purpose: The core focus of this job is to support a specific Master Category for all procurement activity. This will include the delivery of the procurements operating within the category sourcing plan for the category area ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget. Operational Management: Support Senior Commercial Managers and Senior Commercial Officers in execution of category management and ongoing procurement activity. Manage and own the procurement process, including market engagement, development and management of the project, issue of tender documents, evaluation of proposals, contract award and administration and support supplier negotiations. Be responsible for the delivery of medium-high value/ risk procurement activities to the required cost, time and quality. Ensure that procurement activities are delivered to relevant Council standards and within the governance framework. Be responsible for maintaining accurate and up to date information on progress of procurement activities allocated, on the appropriate systems (for example, Forward Procurement Plan and publishing of Contract Awards/ modifications). Have strong commercial awareness and use appropriate challenge to deliver value for money. Contribute to improvements and efficiencies in procurement governance and policies. Identify and manage risks/issues, escalating to line manager as appropriate. Ensure expert technical input for specification development. Undertake price and process benchmarking and reporting. Deal with supplier performance issues (cost, quality, delivery etc.) and risks as they arise, escalating as appropriate Ensure the use of standard formal documentation and procedures in relation to the procurements undertaken for the category. Contribute to the achievement of targets agreed with the Senior Commercial Officer or Senior Commercial Manager as appropriate. The role will assist with the delivery of the procurement strategy and activity across the council. The post will need to use problem solving techniques and innovative thinking to propose solutions and meet operational needs. The postholder will have a strong commercial awareness and will use appropriate challenge to deliver value for money. The postholder will lead the procurement of contracts currently worth up to £30m (Grade JK) or up to £50m (Grade L). The post holder will be expected to undertake any duties which may reasonably fall within the level of responsibility and the competence of the post as directed by the Line Manager or Head of Procurement and Contract. Meet with the external suppliers to assist in the provision of information about the Councils requirements and to review performance and other relevant information to inform tender development. Grade L (in addition the role will include) Responsible for the mentoring of Procurement & Contract Support Officers, commencing Level 3/ Level 4 CIPs. Responsible for mentoring of Category Procurement Officers commencing Level 5 CIPs. As part of the internal mentoring programme develop a structured approach to sharing knowledge and skills developed through the CIPs training route. Assist with the onboarding of new team members to help knowledge transfer and sharing of best practice. Responsible for delivery of routine training within the team around procurement and contract management processes and governance. This will involve the development of the training plan, delivery of training and the evaluation of learning delivered. Responsible for the identification, development and delivery of a training plan across the organisation to inform Directorate and Service Areas of the roles/ responsibilities and governance processes linked to procurement activity. Support the council with regional representation at the Strategic Procurement Group (SPG). Work alongside the Senior Procurement Governance Officer to develop and deliver a training programme to support SPG. This training will be delivered to peers within the region and assist with our collaboration across the Yorkshire and Humber Region. Leading on procurements up to £50m. Where required lead on supplier relationship management issues/ resolutions. Resource management: Support specific category related services for the day-to-day management of all procurement of contracts to aid delivery of the service Support the line manager in delivering high standards of performance against agreed indicators. Ensure service managers are provided with accurate and timely information on delivery of procurement activity, identifying any risks or issues which may impact delivery. Where appropriate make recommendations to rectify and escalate as required. Provide accurate statistical returns as required in a nominated category of spend. Effectively contribute to the overall work programme of the Service. Partnerships: Contribute to the review of lessons learnt through procurements to ensure specification development provides future service improvements. Work with the Councils supply chain to achieve required outcomes. Work with colleagues across the Council to ensure optimum procurement outcomes, including legal, and finance. Work with colleagues in directorates and specific category related services to ensure that new external arrangements will meet their needs. Seek best practice from colleagues and other Local Authorities and wider public sector. Contribute to commercial opportunities and collaboration around procurement delivery. Contribute to the delivery of collaborative procurement activity at a regional level, where required for example, delivery of procurements for the Regional Adoption Agency and Strategic Procurement Group. Communications: Ensuring the most appropriate form of communication is used to achieve timely responses and not over relying on email. Ensure the required customer service standards are understood and exceeded where possible. Deal professionally with all enquiries via email, telephone or in person. Undertake personal interaction with the public, & officers in a positive way which creates a good impression of the Service and the Council. Communicate with customers around the performance of the service and act on any feedback received, demonstrating any action taken as a result. Build strong working relationships with principal stakeholders such as service area managers demonstrating awareness and sensitivity to the needs of key stakeholders. Manage conflict situations effectively and pro-actively seek to be creative in developing solutions to deliver win-win. Systems and information: Use systems and information as appropriate to quality assure the work of contractors and suppliers. Ensure service information is available to service users, their families and the general public as appropriate. Use procurement-specific systems and processes (for example, Public Contract Regulations 2015) in the management of suppliers.