Procurement Manager

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Procurement Manager

Fixed Term, Full Time

£46,388 to £54,573 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.

Do you want to make a difference to real people and real lives? Do you want to be a part of helping to shape the future of our Procurement Service at Essex County Council (ECC)?

Did you know that ECC spends c£1.2Billion per annum on 3rd party commissioned services, making it the 2nd largest spending Authority in the UK? The Procurement Team at ECC are award winning and support the organisation to deliver services to 1.4million residents. We aim to lead the profession on exciting initiatives such as social value, climate action through procurement and how we use our size and scale to support our Levelling up Agenda.

This is an exciting role within the Essex Procurement Partnership (EPP), a shared procurement team that undertakes all procurement activity across a number of District and Borough Authorities. The Partnership currently supports 5 authorities, but this number and the team is growing. The successful candidate will take responsibility for a significant number and variety of procurement projects across these Authorities, taking a business partner role in supporting two EPP member authorities and helping set and develop procurement practice across the partnership.

Excellent stakeholder skills at all levels both internal and external are key as well as a positive ‘can do’ attitude with the ability to work under your own initiative and complete work to a high standard. Whilst being able to adapt to conflicting timeframes and challenging deadlines ensuring these with a positive and pro-active approach. A good understanding of procurement legislation and how it can be applied to achieve the partnership’s outcomes is essential.

You will be joining an established and supportive team of professionals, and this role would be ideal for an ambitious, hard-working individual with leadership skills who is also able to develop others as well as themselves. This role would also line manage once established.

This is a great role in a vibrant and growing team. You’ll find an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued, and you have the opportunity to progress your career.

To learn more about the Procurement Service and careers in Procurement please visit https://www.workingforessex.com/careers-in-procurement

To find out what a typical day as a Procurement Manager with ECC looks like, hear from one of our colleagues Mark .

Accountabilities

• Lead the development, maintenance and implementation of category strategies, ensuring alignment to commissioning objectives
• Develop and implement innovative approaches and solutions in the delivery of a wider variety of procurement projects to enhance levels of service and minimise costs. This requires working collaboratively with colleagues across each member council and externally, to ensure best practice can be achieved when implementing new ways of working.
• Collaborate with and exert influence on Directors, Senior Managers and Members as to the commercial and financial viability of differing commercial options for specific projects within complex and often, contentious environments.
• Take a proactive approach to identifying and investigating contractual, commercial and market risks to ensure continuity of supply and protect the Authority’s interests.
• Lead major projects and tenders, ensuring all sourcing activity fully complies with appropriate legislation and regulation whilst also complying with EPP and member authority policies.
• Work collaboratively with incumbent suppliers and potential new entrants to identify gaps in market provision and explore opportunities to close those gaps.
• Provide support and advice to stakeholders regarding any contractual or procurement matters.
• Support the adoption of best practice approaches with the aim of ensuring that the Procurement function is seen as ‘best in class’. Ensure policies, procedures, documents and workflows are kept up-to-date and remain best in class.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level with a relevant professional qualification such as MCIPS and or equivalent demonstrable work experience with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of category management and experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments to deliver significant cost or service improvements.
• Significant public sector sourcing experience.
• Experience of delivering continuous improvements in large, strategic arrangements with evidence of generating significant cost and service benefits.
• Knowledge of contract law and legislation relevant to the specific category / categories within their control and its impact on market management, finance and contractual arrangements.
• Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law with an ability to explain the law to non-procurement staff and find pragmatic solutions to potential legal difficulties.
• Comprehensive negotiating skills appropriate to multi million pound contracts and experience of planning and delivering successful negotiations.
• Experience of working in a political environment and skilled in understanding and responding to different perspectives.

To read more about the procurement service and the wider Corporate Services function of Essex County Council please follow this link: https://www.workingforessex.com/role/corporate-services

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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