Job title: Senior Procurement Officer – People Services

Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: City Centre based, hybrid working offered (mandatory, weekly one day in office)

Are you a procurement professional looking to join a dynamic and committed procurement and commercial service? As our next Senior Procurement Officer, you’ll be inquisitive and thrive on finding solutions in the context of public procurement.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Senior Procurement Officer, you will bring to the role:

Strong relationship (and stakeholder) management and communication skills with the ability to shape and influence change,
Experience supporting a Category Management approach in the delivery of best practice procurement and achieving value for money,
Be forward thinking, inquisitive and curious to understand the market and the supply chain,
Experience applying project management and manage multiple projects,
Strong procurement and/or supply chain management experience (relevant Degree, CIPS qualification or relevant demonstrable skills or experience)
Experienced in public sector procurement preferable, although those whose background is not in the public sector but who can demonstrate an understanding of the issues and processes around public sector procurement will also be considered.

About the role

As our next senior procurement officer, you’ll will be responsible for the following duties:

Provide a professional advisory and management function in respect of complex medium to high procurements across the People Category
Promote and support outcomes focused solutions that will add values and help achieve the Best City Ambitions
Promote partnership working in and out the Council to support priority outcomes,
Support to the category management approach and transformation to ensure efficiencies and best outcomes,

The role is integral to Procurement and Commercial Services (PACS), a trusted internal provider at the heart of procurement and commercial activity within Leeds City Council. PACS is a forward-thinking multidisciplinary service. You will be joining a team that is diverse, encouraging, supportive and whose work makes a positive difference to the organisation and residents. You may have experience of people related procurement and commercial related services, or you may be very interested.

The role will provide you with opportunities to continue with your professional development and contribute to the development of leading practices.

You will have a key role in working within the context of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

If you are interested in this Senior Procurement Officer, please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Edwige Moutault- Senior Category Manager via email Edwige.moutault@leeds.gov.ukfor a confidential discussion.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job description

Job purpose

Working as part of the team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. Your role will be important in ensuring the council is more enterprising and efficient and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of procurements and procurement projects. The role operates within the context of the council’s Business Plan Objective to increase efficiency.

The post holder will be responsible for providing professional advisory and management functions in respect of complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements and procurement projects, advising clients and ensuring compliance with procedures, process, current contractual arrangements and a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings, supporting a category management approach and advising members and directorates on related commercial activity.

The Senior Procurement Officer will be able to:

Demonstrate relevant skills and experience in the management of procurement project
Be responsible for the management and monitoring of procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements and supporting complex procurements within identified categories to reduce spend and achieve efficiencies.
Identifying, developing and monitoring procurements undertaken on a regional and inter-council basis.

Key requirements

Manage procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements, within a context of budget pressures and funding restrictions, ensuring the delivery and improvement of services which meet the needs of our communities and stakeholders.
Manage procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements, and supporting the delivery of complex procurements contributing to the delivery of the council’s procurement category management function as a whole.
Contribute to the identifying and resolving of risks and issues in procurements.
Coordinate and manage the tender process to Invitation to Tender stage including the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, publishing of relevant documentation.
Contribute to, and where appropriate manage, the procurement process to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation.
At all stages of the procurement process respond to and communicate with bidders on behalf of the council.
Report on spend and challenge departments regarding off-contract, non-contract and quasi-contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.
Contribute to and guide the preparation and authorisation of contract document to ensure that properly drafted contracts are entered into; implement standardised documentation across procurements and categories.
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, with an understanding of the strategic procurement issues facing the public sector
Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets
Experience of effectively managing medium complexity procurement contracts to achieve objectives
Experience of applying different strategies for solving procurement issues
Experience of reviewing systems and procedures to improve service delivery
Demonstrate drive, energy , resilience and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others
Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats
Experience of working in a multi-discipline environment
Experience of supporting a multi-disciplinary and occasionally geographically dispersed procurement project team
Experience of successful management of change programmes which reflect service needs, provide value for money, and maintain quality
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate to form positive relationships
Ability to employ a range of management styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for staff and customers
Experience of delivering a high level of customer satisfaction with the quality of service
Knowledge, understanding and experience of procurement and project management methodology to drive service improvement
An understanding and practical experience of procurement and commercial approach through all stages of the procurement life cycle

Working context - The role is primarily office based and the post holder will be expected to work flexibly, in line with Council policies, both at home and at various locations across the City and region. Hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday, in accordance with the needs of the service; however, the post holder will be expected to work regularly outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening / weekend meetings or events as the service requires.

Qualification here, or any other relevant post graduate qualification

To hold a Degree, CIPS qualification or relevant demonstrable skills or experience.
To be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development
Contribute to effective joint working within the council. Provide direction and support to colleagues, clients and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement
Contribute to new ways of working and to partnership working and relationships with key clients both internal and external to the council, to improve corporate priority outcomes and to ensure that developments and improvements remain focused on delivering outcomes for local people.
Promote and support positive solutions to achieve diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement activity and human resource areas.
Support effective consultation and communications with colleagues, clients, councillors, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with council policy.
Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.
Manage all aspects of risk and be responsible for the safety of staff, clients and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies.
Assist in reducing procurement costs and improving efficiency by identifying areas suitable for corporate contracts and e-procurement and developing other appropriate contractual arrangements.
Maintain a record of the savings achieved through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement arrangements.
Identify, develop and monitor procurements undertaken on a regional and inter-council basis
Support the delivery of training relevant to procurement to a range of internal practitioners; help develop the skills and abilities of client-based staff to enable them to undertake procurement projects of varying size and complexity.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

Leeds City Council values are at the heart of everything we do. They inform the way we design and deliver our services and the way we all work and behave. Leeds City Council expects all its employees and councillors to observe our core values and to understand our codes of conduct for ethical behaviour, correct use of the Integrated Digital Service (IDS) facilities and protection of sensitive information.
They reflect the current needs of the city. In a period of immense change and real challenge we must be both confident and decisive about what we do and how we do it. Observing our values can help us:

Knowledge:

Provide advice and guidance on procurement matters across the authority to senior officers and other stakeholders.
Assist the Procurement Category Manager in providing advice at a senior level to service departments prior to the commencement of the procurement, including procurement options appraisal, procurement plan, specification, pricing models, innovative partnership arrangements.
Provide post-procurement advice and management, including the Contract Management Plan.
Provide advice and management regarding contract extensions, variations and termination of contracts.
Assist with the development, management and monitoring of the implementation of category management and category plans across identified categories of spend.
Provide advice and guidance on the implementation of, and ensure compliance with, the council’s Contract Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, and statutory undertakings.
Ensure safety and safeguarding requirements are complied with.

LCC Values

Leeds City Council values are at the heart of everything we do. They inform the way we design and deliver our services and the way we all work and behave. Leeds City Council expects all its employees and councillors to observe our core values and to understand our codes of conduct for ethical behaviour, correct use of the Digital Information Service (DIS) facilities and protection of sensitive information.
They reflect the current needs of the city. In a period of immense change and real challenge we must be both confident and decisive about what we do and how we do it.

Observing our values can help us:

Working as a Team for Leeds Work in ways which are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds

Being Open, Honest & Trusted Ensure citizens and council members are provided with all relevant information to make decisions, learn from mistakes and seek to promote continuous improvement and best practice

Working with Communities Work effectively with the variety of partners to deliver services, communicate and involve stakeholders and the wider community in new developments to encourage ownership and commitment

Treating People Fairly Recognise that everyone has an equally important part to play within the Council and value the diverse and vibrant nature of the city and all its citizens

Spending Money Wisely Set high expectations of achievement across a range of strategic outcomes, actively seek out opportunities to improve delivery of services though partnership and feedback from service users