Procurement Officer

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Commercial & Procurement team and play an important role that makes a real difference to our communities. The Commercial & Procurement team is a proactive and consultative team that supports a range of directorates. We ensure the Council's commercial arrangements and contracts deliver value for money for Dorset residents. The roles act as procurement advisors and are currently aligned to the following directorate teams. One role will be largely focussed on supporting the diverse Economy and Environment (formerly Place) directorate, which includes areas such as Property, Highways, Coastal, Waste, Transport and Fleet. Additionally, the All-Age Commissioning role provides procurement expertise across Adult and Children's Services, helping services plan, procure and manage commissioned provision in a consistent and coordinated way. This includes care placements, residential services, supported accommodation, early help, specialist support services and other commissioned provision for children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The roles will be flexible and support to other directorates may be required at times, providing you with opportunities to develop new skills and work across diverse projects rather than be siloed into one specific area. There are also opportunities to support ICT Governance and Transformation. You will lead the commissioning and delivery of high-value, complex procurement projects in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Candidates with a strong track record in public sector procurement, including delivering open tenders and framework call-offs, and a good comprehension of procurement regulations will be prioritised for interview. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute effectively from day one. We also welcome applications from candidates with broader experience in compliance, tendering and contract management. What you will be doing

• Manage tender processes for directorate-specific requirements, ensuring best practice.
• Provide support and guidance to stakeholders.
• Offer procurement and commercial advice to officers and suppliers.
• Procurement activities from initiation through to contract management.
• Support stakeholders in achieving their strategic objectives.
• Promote and support a commercially minded approach across the Council.

Reorganisation is currently taking place across the Council, which may change the focus of the role. About you

• Effective communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage a range of stakeholders internally and externally.
• Experience of working with suppliers, including supplier relationship management and contract management.
• Confident using ICT systems, ideally including the Proactis ProContract e-tendering system, and have strong Microsoft 365 skills, including Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of procurement practices.
• Awareness of public sector procurement regulations and procedures.
• Project management skills, with the ability to manage projects effectively.
• A solution-focused approach and strong attention to detail

Join us and be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team where your expertise will help shape the future and ensure our procurement practices deliver the best outcomes for our communities.

Further Information

Candidates should structure their application around the requirements of the person specification to show how they meet the criteria, providing examples. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The selection process will have two stages: an initial Teams call followed, for candidates who progress, by an in-person interview in Dorchester. A presentation will be required at the in-person interview, and the topic will be advised with the interview confirmation. Where there are more appointable candidates than immediate vacancies, appointable candidates may be placed on a reserve list for up to 18 months, as further opportunities may arise through the Council's transformation programme. There are multiple roles available. We may also consider a part-time role (minimum 30 hours). We reserve the right to consider a fixed-term appointment. We are currently unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have an existing right to work in the UK. This is a hybrid role, with a balance of remote working and office working (Dorchester), depending on business and project requirements. The initial expectation is that there would normally be a minimum of one working day a week in the office for the first six months to build relationships. Whilst work travel has reduced considerably due to the use of virtual meetings, there may be occasions when travel is needed. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed. Indicative timetable:

• Applications closing date: 22/10/2026
• Stage 1 online interviews: 26/10/2026
• Stage 2 in-person interviews: 2/11/2026
• Candidates will be notified as soon as possible following the final interview.

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact [email protected] and 01305 221250.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

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, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.